Ceara state govt to hold solar energy auction by end-2011 - report

Aug 8, 2011 - The state government of Brazil's northeastern Ceara state is organising a solar energy auction to be held by the end of this year, Brazilian energy news site Canal Energia reported on Friday.

The objective is to encourage the arrival of the entire solar power chain to the state, Zuza de Oliveira, president of Ceara's development agency Adece, told Canal Energia.

The contracted energy will then be used in public buildings.

The price of the solar energy ranges from BRL 450 (USD 284/EUR 199) per MWh to BRL 700 per MWh, while the average price of energy from other sources stands at around BRL 150 per MWh, Oliveira noted.

The difference will be paid with resources from the fund for investments in solar energy Fies, which is currently going through a regulation process, he said, adding Ceara's government has already released BRL 10 million for Fies.

In order to be pre-qualified for the auction, the companies must already have the construction site of a solar power plant and the respective environmental licence.

According to Oliveira, so far, some 20 companies have showed interest, including Bons Ventos and Chinese Sky Solar Holdings.

(BRL 1 = USD 0.631/EUR 0.442)

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