• Producing around 750 GWh of clean energy annually – enough to supply 350,000 Mexican homes and avoid emission of 345,000 tons of CO2 each year
  • From a May 2019 construction start Potrero Solar is expected to be operational by mid-2020
  • The project will benefit the local economy creating some 1,500 jobs during its construction phase

Fotowatio Renewable Ventures (FRV), part of Abdul Latif Jameel Energy and a leading global developer of renewable utility-scale projects, announced the financial close for Potrero Solar (296 MW dc), the Company’s second solar farm in Mexico.

Financial close was reached in March with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and Banco Nacional de Comercio Exterior (Bancomext), and the plant which began construction in late May, will be completed by mid-2020.

Potrero Solar is FRV’s first project in Mexico to be financed before any of its products (including energy produced, CEL or capacity) are pre-committed in tender schemes, and one of the largest merchant[1] PV projects worldwide to use bifacial technology.  Once operational, the plant will competitively trade the electricity generated as well as the associated clean energy certificates in the country’s energy market.

With a land area of approximately 700 ha, Potrero Solar will be located in Lagos de Moreno, in the state of Jalisco, and will use bifacial PV modules – a new technology that has the ability to capture both direct sunlight from both the top or front face and reflected light from the rear face.

The solar power farm will generate around 700 GWh of clean energy each year, enough to supply around 350,000 average Mexican homes and avoid the emission of 345,000 tons of CO2 annually.  In addition, Potrero, which will be built by a consortium formed by multinationals Power China and Prodiel under an EPC (Engineering-Procurement-Construction) contract, will boost local economic development including potential creation of around 1,500 jobs during its construction phase.

Fernando Salinas, Managing Director of FRV Mexico, highlights:

“Mexico is a country that offers numerous opportunities for both FRV and international investors, due to its favorable market and weather conditions for renewable energy projects.  Potrero’s financial close marks a milestone as the largest bifacial plant in the world and FRV’s first fully merchant project in Mexico.  By carrying out this flagship project that will lead the way for other large-scale bifacial PV plants and that is also one of the largest PV merchant projects worldwide,  FRV demonstrates its leadership once again and its ability to be a spearhead in the wider renewable energy industry.”

Fady Jameel, Deputy President and Vice Chairman of Abdul Latif Jameel, said:

“At Abdul Latif Jameel Energy, we are delighted to move forward to the next phase of the Potrero project.  Potrero confirms FRV’s positioning as one of the leaders in the global renewable energy sector and further reinforces our long-term commitment to Mexico’s drive for clean energy.  Mexico is a strong and promising market for FRV and Abdul Latif Jameel Energy, and we look forward to seeing Potrero spearhead the development of the sector in the country and further afield.”

About Abdul Latif Jameel Energy

Abdul Latif Jameel Energy was formed in 2012, and today is a leading, independent power producer, and a premier service provider of operations and maintenance in the renewable energy sector, with interests in 16 countries worldwide with capabilities in renewable energy including solar photovoltaic, wind, waste-to-energy, and environmental solutions including desalination, water and waste water treatment. For more information, please visit:  www.alj.com/energy

About FRV

FRV is a leading global renewable development company in markets including Australia, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe and Latin America.  Leveraging its proven experience and expertise in the industry, FRV has built a business model that combines ownership of a diversified portfolio of clean power generation assets in our key markets, seeking long-term operational and financial optimization, with an increased focus in customer needs arising as a result of the power sector transformation. To this end, in the next 5 years the company expects an investment of over USD 4 billion in fixed assets with the goal of increasing by eight-fold the total installed capacity, going from 0.7 GW in 2019 to 5.8 GW in 2024.  For more information, please visit:  www.frv.com

About IFC

IFC—a member of the World Bank Group—is the largest global development institution focused on the private sector in emerging markets. We work with more than 2,000 businesses worldwide, using our capital, expertise, and influence to create markets and opportunities in the toughest areas of the world. In fiscal year 2018, we delivered more than US$ 23 billion in long-term financing for developing countries, leveraging the power of the private sector to end extreme poverty and boost shared prosperity. For more information, visit: www.ifc.org

[1] Merchant power plants are a form of non-utility or independent power generation designed for competitive wholesale power marketplaces. Unlike conventional independent power projects, merchant plants do not have upfront, long-term fixed price power purchase agreements (PPA) to cover their output.  Merchant plants are being built to sell to competitive, spot markets.

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