Fotowatio Renewable Ventures B.V. (FRV), a leading global developer of utility-scale photovoltaic (PV) solar power plants, has completed the construction of ‘La Jacinta’ solar plant in Uruguay. The project is the first large-scale solar plant in Uruguay and one of the largest solar PV projects in Latin America. ‘La Jacinta’ solar plant was the first solar power purchase agreement (PPA) signed with the Uruguayan state-owned electric company ‘Administración Nacional de Usinas y Transmisiones Eléctricas’ (UTE) and is the first to become operational.

Located in Salto, in the north of Uruguay, the plant is part of the government’s ambitious policy to promote more extensive usage of solar power. The plant began supplying electricity to the grid in July 2015 and received an acceptance certificate from the UTE on September 7, 2015. With 64 MWdc of installed power, the solar plant provides 100% of its energy to the UTE and meets the electrical needs of approximately 35,000 homes, while eliminating approximately 74.142t CO2 emissions per year.

Rafael Benjumea, CEO of FRV, said: “The key to the success of this project lies in the close collaboration maintained with the UTE, the Ministry of Energy and other regional and local authorities throughout the various phases of the project. We would also like to thank the Inter-American Development Bank and DNB for their ongoing support and helping make Uruguay home for one of the largest solar PV projects in Latin America.”

“Launching ‘La Jacinta’ is a great milestone and a source of pride for us, as it is the first solar plant of significant size to start operating in Uruguay. This success is an endorsement of our credentials and expertise and positions us well to further develop sustainable clean energy projects in this country and across the Latin American continent,” he continued. FRV was acquired by Abdul Latif Jameel Energy and Environmental Services (a division of Abdul Latif Jameel International DMCC) in April 2015, following the successful joint venture partnership announced between the two companies in January 2014.

The acquisition resulted in Abdul Latif Jameel Energy and Environmental Services’ 100% ownership of FRV, which currently holds a 4.3 GWdc pipeline of projects in emerging solar markets, including the Middle East, Australia, Africa and Latin America. 4.3 GWdc of power is the equivalent of generating enough electricity to supply approximately 2 million homes and remove approximately 6 million t of CO2 emissions.