Canadian Solar announced the commencement of solar module manufacturing in Sorocaba, Brazil.
The Sorocaba facility, with 380 MW annual capacity of made in Brazil solar modules, will be the largest such facility in Brazil
Shawn Qu, chairman and chief executive officer of Canadian Solar, said, “Our new state-of-the-art facility is already having a positive impact on Brazil’s economy through the jobs created, investment made in the local economy, and our help in the promotion and further development of the country’s renewable energy industry.”
The company’s current solar project portfolio in Brazil has reached 390 MWp, of which EDF EN do Brazil, the local subsidiary of EDF Energies Nouvelles, bought 80% of the equity interest of its 191 MW Pirapora I project (expected to come online in 3Q17), Qu said.
As of September 30, 2016, Canadian Solar’s late-stage pipeline totaled 2.0 GWp of utility-scale solar project pipeline worldwide, along with a portfolio of operating solar power plants totaling 948 MWp.
In Brazil, the Company’s current utility-scale solar project pipeline reaches 390 MWp. This is comprised of its 191 MWp Pirapora I project, 109 MWp Pirapora II project and 90 MWp Vazante project.
The Pirapora I project is in construction and expected to reach commercial operation in 3Q17, with the Pirapora II and Vazante projects expected to reach commercial operation in 2018. Canadian Solar will supply made-in Brazil solar modules for its projects.