PETALING JAYA: Yinson Holdings Bhd
’s Matarani solar plant in Peru has entered into its full operational phase, following the commencement of power export and sales in July 2024.
The 97 megawatts-peak (MWp) plant, located near Arequipa, positions Yinson Renewables as Peru’s second largest solar generator and is the group’s first operational project in Peru.
The plant, which commenced operations ahead of schedule, is designed to deliver 260 gigawatt hours of renewable energy annually and is estimated to be able to satisfy the electricity needs of approximately 62,000 Peruvian households and prevent the emission of more than 56,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year.
The plant includes almost 150,000 panels covering an area of 750,000 sq metres.
The Matarani Solar Plant has a long-term power purchase agreement with Orygen, Peru’s leading renewable energy generator, whose majority shareholder is the global sustainable infrastructure investment fund, Actis.
Yinson Renewables chief executive officer David Brunt said: “The Matarani Solar Plant is a significant milestone for Yinson Renewables, being our first in Peru and the region.
“With this plant now fully operational, Yinson Renewables has created a strong foundation which will facilitate our continued expansion in the region.”
Yinson Renewables acquired the project from Grenergy Renewables in January 2024. Grenergy provided a full turnkey engineering, procurement and construction contract for the construction of the project and is also providing operation and maintenance service for the first two years.
Yinson Renewables has a strong growth ambition in Latin America, with a pipeline of close to 1 gigawatts expected to be built in the next three to five years.
In Peru, Yinson Renewables also owns the 130 MWp Majes Project, the first phase of which is expected to be ready for construction by end 2024.
Matarani is Yinson Renewables’s fourth large scale project to reach commercial operations, with the first three being the Rising Bhadla 1 and 2 plants and the Nokh Solar plant in India.
