Atlas Renewable Energy Drives Brazil’s Energy Transition and Economic Development in the state of Minas Gerais

• The minister of mines and energy, Alexandre Silveira, visits the Vista Alegre solar plant, highlighting the company’s large-scale photovoltaic projects in the state.

São Paulo, February 10, 2025 – Brazil’s minister of mines and energy, Alexandre Silveira, visited Atlas Renewable Energy’s Vista Alegre solar plant in Janauba, Minas Gerais. As one of the largest solar projects in Latin America, Vista Alegre reinforces Atlas’ commitment to decarbonizing Brazil’s energy matrix and attracting investment in the renewable energy sector.

 Minister Silveira has consistently emphasized Brazil’s position as a global leader in the energy transition and the importance of diversifying renewable energy sources. Minas Gerais has emerged as a key region for solar energy development, thanks to its vast land availability and abundant sunlight. Atlas operates and is developing solar plants across multiple municipalities in the state, including Janauba, Pirapora, Paracatu, and Arinos.

This marks Silveira’s first visit to a centralized solar generation facility.

“We have been working on public policies to ensure the expansion of our energy matrix, primarily through renewable sources such as solar energy. Minas Gerais has stood out in this context, with significant investments being made, especially in the northern part of the state, which has great potential for photovoltaic energy. As a result, we have been able to transform the reality of these regions, creating thousands of jobs and diversifying the economy while reinforcing Brazil’s leadership in clean energy generation,” said Silveira.

Vista Alegre: Among Brazil’s Largest Solar Plants

The expansion of solar energy in northern Minas Gerais has unlocked new economic and social opportunities for local communities. Vista Alegre began operating in late 2024, bringing economic benefits and sustainable energy jobs to Janauba. The plant boasts an installed capacity of 902 MWp (equivalent to 768 MWac) and is expected to generate approximately 2 TWh of clean energy annually—enough energy to power a city the size of Brasília (about 3 million people) and prevent about 154,000 tons of CO₂ per year.

Vista Alegre has solidified Atlas’ position as Brazil’s leading solar energy producer. According to ePowerBay, a consultancy specializing in renewable energy market analysis, using data from Brazil’s National Electric Energy Agency (Aneel) and the Electric Energy Trading Chamber (CCEE), Atlas is the country’s largest centralized photovoltaic energy generator, with 1.6 GW of installed capacity across its owned plants in Brazil.

In addition, Vista Alegre further strengthens the company’s commitment to operational excellence across its assets. As a key contributor to clean energy production, the plant embodies sustainability at scale. Notably, the project set a record in Latin America for the highest number of solar modules installed in a single day—38,398 panels. It also stands as the continent’s largest solar project built in a single phase, completed in just 16 months.

Social transformation is a fundamental pillar of Atlas’ projects. During the construction of Vista Alegre, the company made significant investments in sustainability initiatives aimed at local development. One key initiative, the ‘We are all part of the same energy’ program, trained 422 women in the region, fostering inclusion in the renewable energy sector. This program has enabled female representation to increase from a traditional 2% to a 15%.

Strategic Partnerships at the Vista Alegre Solar Complex

Atlas has forged key partnerships to drive the success of the Vista Alegre solar project.  Albras, Brazil’s largest primary aluminum producer, is a partner in the project and its key offtaker under a 21-year power purchase agreement (PPA). This agreement further strengthens the strategic collaboration between both companies in advancing sustainable energy solutions, and supports an innovative financing structure: a dollar-denominated financing extended by BNDES, the Brazilian development bank.

Another key partner is Hydro Rein, a leading renewable energy developer. Hydro Rein acquired a 20% in the Vista Alegre complex in 2024, and has been involved in the project alongside Atlas and Albras since 2021.

Atlas’ Expanding Investments in Minas Gerais

In addition to the Vista Alegre and Boa Sorte solar plants, Atlas has several other strategic energy projects in Minas Gerais. The state’s favorable climate, geography, and topography make it an ideal location for solar power generation. Other Atlas-operated facilities in the region include Casablanca in Pirapora, Luiz Carlos in Paracatu, and the Draco Solar Complex in Arinos.

To date, Atlas’ projects in Minas Gerais have generated more than 16,000 jobs, with over 3,000 direct and indirect positions currently supported by its operations.

Atlas’ Leadership in Brazil’s Energy Transition

“The visit of Minister Alexandre Silveira underscores the federal government’s recognition of the importance of projects like Vista Alegre in advancing Brazil’s energy transition and enhancing industrial competitiveness. Our plant in Janauba is Atlas’ largest and was built with support of a historic BNDES financing, demonstrating our commitment to pioneering innovative renewable energy solutions. We will continue to invest in Minas Gerais and Brazil’s energy transition,” said Fabio Bortoluzo, Country Manager of Atlas Renewable Energy in Brazil.

 About Atlas Renewable Energy

Atlas Renewable Energy is a global renewable energy company with a project portfolio totaling 8.4 GW, including 2.5 GW in advanced stages of development and 3.6 GW already in operation. The company is dedicated to helping large enterprises transition to 100% clean energy solutions.

For more information, visit: www.AtlasRenewableEnergy.com