ArcelorMittal and Atlas Renewable Energy have successfully completed part B of the Luiz Carlos Solar Park, 90 days ahead of schedule. Located in Paracatu in northwestern Minas Gerais, the photovoltaic facility is ArcelorMittal’s first solar plant in Brazil. With an installed capacity of 315 MWp, the plant is expected to generate an average of 74 MW annually. By December 2025, the park will be fully owned by ArcelorMittal Brasil. The R$ 895 million investment supports ArcelorMittal’s objective of achieving self-sufficiency in renewable electricity for its industrial operations. Everton Negresiolo, CEO of ArcelorMittal Long Steel LATAM, stated that all energy generated by the plant will supply the company’s own facilities.
He noted that the project represents an important step in diversifying the energy matrix, reducing operating costs, and strengthening competitiveness. The project also includes a 65-kilometre transmission line operating at 500 kV, connecting the solar park to the National Interconnected System (SIN). Additionally, the infrastructure comprises a step-up substation and a connection point at the Paracatu 4 substation. The development follows a Build, Operate, and Transfer (BOT) model. Under this arrangement, a joint venture between ArcelorMittal and Atlas Renewable Energy manages construction, after which full ownership of the capital is transferred to ArcelorMittal once commercial operation begins.
Fabio Bortoluzo, Brazil Country Manager for Atlas Renewable Energy, highlighted that the partnership demonstrates Atlas’ capability to understand client needs and deliver customized clean energy solutions on time. He also stressed the importance of collaboration between the government and the energy industry to minimize curtailments and support continued successful renewable energy investments in Brazil.
The Luiz Carlos Solar Park incorporates 516,000 bifacial solar modules and advanced tracker technology. It is also the first Atlas solar park to fully implement Trunk Cable technology—a pre-assembled cabling system that replaces the manual installation of individual cables. This innovation accelerates assembly, enhances connection reliability, improves safety, and ensures more organized and efficient wiring.
The solar park is part of ArcelorMittal’s broader R$ 5.8 billion investment plan in renewable energy, which includes a hybrid wind–solar park in Bahia. These initiatives strengthen the company’s efforts in self-generation and decarbonization. ArcelorMittal Brasil aims to source 100% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030. At the end of 2024, 61% of its energy came from self-generation, while the remaining 39% was purchased from suppliers with clean and renewable energy portfolios.
In addition to expanding renewable energy, ArcelorMittal has implemented energy efficiency measures across its Brazilian operations. Industrial plants have installed heat recovery systems and reuse gases from production processes. The Tubarão (Serra-ES) and Pecém (CE) facilities are already self-sufficient in electricity, reducing demand on the national power grid and contributing to more sustainable industrial operations.
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