Paracatu is a 120 MW solar power plant located in Brazil. The facility is part of Brazil's expanding solar energy sector and contributes to the country's renewable energy goals. Paracatu ranks as the sixth largest solar plant in Brazil. With a capacity of 120 MW, it represents 6.88% of the country's total solar capacity of 1,745 MW. Brazil has 24 solar plants with a combined capacity of 1,745 MW. Compared to the largest solar plant, Ituverava at 210 MW, Paracatu is approximately 57% of its size. Solar energy is increasingly important in Brazil's energy mix, providing a clean alternative to fossil fuels. The country benefits from high solar irradiance, making it suitable for solar power generation. Paracatu is located about 500 km northwest of Brasília in the Minas Gerais region.
Brazil, South America
- Primary Fuel Type
- Solar
- Energy Source
- Renewable
- Country
Brazil- Continent
- South America
- Data Source
- Global Power Plant Database
Solar power generation harnesses the sun's energy using photovoltaic (PV) cells or solar thermal systems to produce electricity. The basic principle of solar power generation involves converting sunlight into usable energy. When sunlight hits a PV cell, it excites electrons in the semiconductor material, generating an electric current. This process is known as the photovoltaic effect. Solar thermal systems, on the other hand, use sunlight to heat a fluid that, in turn, produces steam to drive a turbine and generate electricity. Both methods provide a clean and renewable energy source that is gaining significant traction worldwide.
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