Gerdau and Newave Energia Partner with Federal and Minas Gerais Governments to Lay Foundation Stone for Arinos Solar Mega Plant

In a significant stride towards bolstering clean and renewable energy generation within Brazil, Gerdau, the nation’s largest steel producer, and Newave Energia marked a pivotal moment with the inauguration ceremony for the foundation stone of Arinos Solar Park in Arinos (MG). The event, held in the capital of Minas Gerais, witnessed the presence of esteemed figures including President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Minister of Mines and Energy Alexandre Silveira, Governor of Minas Gerais Romeu Zema, Mayor of Arinos Marcílio Almeida, Gerdau’s CEO Gustavo Werneck, and Newave Energia’s Director Claudio Ferreira.

The Arinos Solar Park represents a notable venture aligned with the Growth Acceleration Program (PAC), a federal government initiative unveiled for the state of Minas Gerais. Spearheaded by Newave Energia, a renewable energy platform in which Gerdau holds a 33.33% stake through its newly established business arm, Gerdau Next, the project boasts an estimated investment of approximately R$1.5 billion. Scheduled for completion by the end of 2024, the initiative is anticipated to generate around 4,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities, fostering local economic growth and prosperity for years to come.

With an installed capacity of 420 MWp, the solar megaplant will feature an energy substation. Notably, the photovoltaic capability of the facility equates to 7% of Gerdau’s annual energy consumption in Brazil based on 2022 production figures, heralding an estimated reduction of up to 22,000 tons of CO₂ emissions annually.

Gustavo Werneck, CEO of Gerdau, lauds this milestone as a pivotal advancement in the company’s pursuit of enhanced competitiveness and sustainability across its operations. “Gerdau already maintains one of the lowest global averages of greenhouse gas emissions, underscoring our commitment to further mitigate our carbon footprint,” he affirms. Additionally, Werneck emphasizes the vital role of low-carbon steel in driving planetary decarbonization, serving as a linchpin for sustainable infrastructure and renewable energy technologies.

Upon the operationalization of Arinos Solar Park, 30% of the renewable energy output will be channeled towards Gerdau’s steel production within Brazil. This allocation equates to 34 MWm, corresponding to the energy consumption of a plant with a capacity of 400,000 tons per year.