Claro received from EDP, a company that operates in all segments of the electricity sector, four distributed generation solar plants. The project, located in an area of 5.8 hectares in the municipality of Taubaté (SP), has an installed capacity of more than 4 megawatts-peak (MWp) and will guarantee the supply of renewable energy to 516 consumer units of the telecommunications company in the State.

Together, the plants will generate more than 6,000 MWh/year, equivalent to the energy consumed by 2,523 homes. In addition to economic gains, the plants will prevent 454 tons of carbon dioxide from being emitted each year, which corresponds to the planting of 2,785 trees.

The project, which will be operated by EDP, is part of the initiatives of the “A Energia da Claro” [The Claro Energy] program, launched in 2017, which provides for the use of renewable sources and environmental protection actions in all operations and facilities of the telecommunications company in the Brazil. A Energia da Claro has plants in several states, such as Bahia, Goiás, Maranhão, Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso, Pará, Pernambuco, Piauí, Mato Grosso do Sul, Paraná, Santa Catarina and São Paulo) and has facilities in the final stage of implementation, in addition to projects under construction in the other federal units.

By 2021, the program will generate 80% of the energy consumed by the company, more than 600,000 MWh/year. Considered the largest Distributed Generation project and the first among telecommunications organizations in the country, it provides for the generation of clean energy (solar, hydroelectric, wind, biogas and qualified cogeneration) for electricity concessionaires and includes actions for electric mobility and energy efficiency.

“This partnership reinforces Claro's commitment to innovation and sustainability. That is why the company invests in its own renewable energy program, which has a lower cost and reduces the production of greenhouse gases”, says Hamilton Ricardo Pereira da Silva, Infrastructure director at Claro.

“The choice of EDP to deliver this project to Claro, one of the largest companies in the telecommunications sector in the country, shows the credibility achieved by our company in Distributed Generation. We see this area as one of the most promising for our business in the coming years and we continue to work to increase our participation in the segment”, says Carlos Andrade, vice president of New Business Strategy at EDP in Brazil.

Solar energy market

According to a survey by the Brazilian Association of Photovoltaic Solar Energy (Absolar), the solar source reached, at the end of the first quarter of this year, the mark of 5,114 gigawatts (GW) of installed capacity in the country - representing an increase of 14.4% compared to the end of 2019.

Of this total, 55%, or 2,687 GW, refer to large plants, known in the sector as centralized generation, and the remaining 2,427 GW refer to more than 208,300 mini or micro generation systems, the so-called distributed generation.

About Claro

Claro is the leader in Telecommunications in Latin America and one of the largest multiservice operators in Brazil, present in all regions of the country. It is in more than 4200 Brazilian municipalities and its networks provide services to more than 96% of the population. Claro offers integrated solutions for connectivity, entertainment, productivity and digital services in a truly convergent way, on various fixed and mobile platforms. It is a leader in cable TV, broadband and the fastest growing operator in mobile services. Through Embratel, it also leads the corporate services segment, which includes cloud, telecom, IT and network and application security offerings. It was a pioneer in the deployment of all generations of mobile internet in Brazil, including 4.5G, which allows browsing 10x faster than the traditional 4G network. It is a leader in connection speed, both in cell phones and residential broadband, with ultra-speeds. Claro is part of América Móvil, with a presence in 25 countries, in Latin America and in Europe and the United States. www.claro.com.br

About EDP in Brazil

With over 20 years of experience, EDP is one of the largest private companies in the electricity sector operating throughout the value chain. The Company, which has over 10,000 direct and outsourced employees, operates in Transmission, Trading and Energy Services and has six hydroelectric generation units and one thermal power station. In Distribution, it serves about 3.5 million customers in São Paulo and Espírito Santo, in addition to being the main shareholder of Celesc, in Santa Catarina. In Brazil, it is a reference in areas such as Innovation, Governance and Sustainability, having been in the B3´s Corporate Sustainability Index (ISE) for 14 consecutive years.