Suntech Power has secured a contract to supply photovoltaic (PV) modules for the 30MW solar power plant in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico.
Under the contract, Suntech will supply 132,000 Ve and Vd panels, which will be installed by Portugal-based Martifer Solar on a 100ha site.
The power plant, which is being developed by Gauss Energia for Corporacion Aura Solar, will have an annual production capacity of 82Gwh and avoid more than 60,000t of CO2 emissions per year.
Construction of the power plant is expected to be completed in August 2013.
Mexican local development bank NAFIN, and the International Finance Corporation are providing finance for the project.
Suntech said the power plant is Mexico’s first utility-scale solar project with a power purchase agreement from Mexico’s federal power company.
Suntech America managing director E.L. McDaniel said, "With Mexico’s excellent sunlight and strong renewable energy demand, we expect to see excellent growth of PV in the region."
Gauss Energia CEO Hector Olea said the project is part of an initiative that intends to become a platform to develop utility-scale PV facilities in Mexico.
"With Mexico’s solar potential expected to reach around 2,000MW by 2020, Aura Solar has broken ground in the PV sector, and it is paving the way for future projects in the field," Olea said.
Martifer Solar CEO Henrique Rodrigues said the company considers Mexico as a key market in its global expansion strategy.
"This is an emblematic project for Martifer Solar, in a region that, due to its irradiation characteristics, finds solar electricity as a viable and more competitive alternative, when compared with non-renewable energy sources," Rodrigues said.
Image: Mexico’s solar potential is anticipated to reach about 2,000 MW by 2020. Photo: courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net.
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