Engie Brasil Energia S A : to build 7 solar energy plants for BC Energia with an installed capacity of 10.8MWp and generating 21 GWh/year

ENGIE, the largest private-sector energy company in Brazil, active in electric energy generation, trading and transmission, gas transportation and energy solutions and infrastructure, has concluded a partnership with the renewable power company, BC Energia for the building of seven photovoltaic solar plants. The plants will be of the distributed generation type and are to be installed in the states of Goiás, Minas Gerais as well as the Federal District.

Together, the plants will add a further 21 GWh/year of generation capacity to BC Energia's installed energy which will reach a total of 35.5 GWh by 2021 - enough to the supply 20 thousand households.

'Our partnership with BC Energia is in line with ENGIE's purpose of making a contribution to the promotion of sustainability, decentralization and decarbonization in generation and solutions in energy as a whole. Our strategy is to spearhead the current energy transition. In addition, distributed solar generation is a renewable alternative and cost competitive for various segments', points out Leonardo Serpa, chief executive officer of ENGIE Soluções.

Of the seven units, three will be built in the state of Goiás, currently sixth in distributed solar generation according to the National Electric Energy Agency ranking. Representing an increase in capacity of more than 4.6 MWp, BC Energia will account for approximately 6% of the state's output once the plants are concluded.

With the installation of a further two plants in the Federal District corresponding to an increase in capacity of more than 3 MWp, BC Energia will supply 10% of the Federal District's generation requirements. Another two plants are to be built in the state of Minas Gerais.

' In our commitment to sustainability and the electric energy business, we have the same proposals as ENGIE. Our production is 100% renewable, currently being a mix divided equally between hydric and photovoltaic generation. Once the the seven solar plants, are in operation, solar energy will correspond to 70% of our generation', Alessandro Cunha, CEO of the BC Energia Group observes.

A successful partnership

ENGIE and BC Energia have already completed a successful joint project in 2018 with the building of the first 'solar-hydric' plant in the municipality of Caiapônia, in the southeast of the state of Goias, 318 km from Goiânia. The plant has already been installed in the Rio Bonito complex, the ownership of the BC Energia Group, and where there are two Hydroelectric Power Plants (CGH) in operation - Rio Bonito I and II - with total installed capacity of 1,900 kVA.

By meshing photovoltaic solar generation, which is intermittent, with hydric generation, this hybrid plant manages to maintain regularity of generation throughout the year even during periods of drought when the Hydroelectric Power Plants experience a significant drop in volumes produced.

The operation is the largest hybrid generation system in the state of Goiás and one of the largest in Brazil in energy volume to be injected into the network using the compensation model in which surplus energy not consumed immediately upon generation is transformed into credits with the local power distributor for future consumption.

About BC Energia

BC Energia is one of the Central/Western region's fastest growing power companies operating in the electric energy generation, trading, and services segment. With a proprietary installed capacity which will reach 20 MW with 23 plants by the end of 2020, its entire capacity is generated from renewable sources with low levels of GHG emissions such as hydroelectric and solar energy plants.

The Group is among the principal companies in Brazil in energy trading in the free market, operating through the intermediary of BC Comercializadora and Lux Comercializadora.

The company also develops innovative solutions in the area of renewable generation, offering both its clients as well as its partners customized products and services for meeting the needs of each business, contributing to the better performance of the operation and the preservation of the environment.

In addition to participation in projects for generation and development of sustainable solutions, BC Energia is a pioneer in Brazil in energy generation focusing on residential, commercial, and corporate segments using the distributed micro- and mini-generation model.