ArcVera Renewables (ArcVera), an international technical advisory business specializing in project-lifetime resource assessment, optimization and testing, has provided consultancy support on a total project pipeline exceeding 17GW, including 2GW of operating capacity, in the Brazilian renewables market. This milestone has been achieved as the business solidifies its Latin American presence with the establishment of a new office in São Paulo. Activity in the Brazilian wind and solar markets is ramping up again as the country’s economy recovers, with recent auctions – the first since 2016 – kick-starting development. Following this resurgence, competition is as fierce as ever, with record low project bids being submitted by the major domestic and international players.
Amid this aggressive bidding landscape, ensuring that renewable energy projects are not only developed and financed on the basis of accurate, bankable resource data, but also optimized to perform to their full potential throughout their lifetime, is essential to maintaining profitability despite falling prices and narrowing margins.
Formed in March 2017 via the merger of two highly experienced US-based technical consultancies, V-Bar and Chinook Wind, ArcVera’s team of atmospheric scientists, data analysts and engineers, has a track record in the Brazilian wind and solar markets stretching back more than 7 years.
During this time, ArcVera has provided independent engineering and due diligence support to many of the largest players in Brazilian renewables – from domestic banks and international financial institutions, to project developers and portfolio owner/operators. Contracts have ranged from early-stage site prospecting work, through development and financing support, to construction and operations – spanning approximately 2GW of wind and solar projects.
ArcVera’s new office, strategically located in São Paulo, will further solidify the presence of the business on the ground, and provide an important hub from which to support an expanding pipeline of projects, both in Brazil and further afield throughout Latin America
“In a thriving and competitive renewable energy market like Brazil, it’s fine project margins that decide the winners’ and losers’ – both when it comes to financing through the auction process, and when maintaining profitability over the long-term”
, said John Bosche, President and Principal Engineer, ArcVera Renewables.
“In this climate, the value of accurate, independently validated resource data cannot be understated, nor can the importance of finding a trusted partner with the local market experience and technical expertise to back up project-critical financing, development and operational decisions”
, he added.
Gregory Poulos, Chief Executive and Principal Atmospheric Scientist, ArcVera Renewables, commented,
“At ArcVera Renewables, we like to think that our track record in the Brazilian market speaks for itself, and look forward to building our local relationships further as the industry goes from strength to strength.”
In August, ArcVera published and presented the findings from a detailed Wind Resource Assessment Benchmark report at Brazil Windpower 2018. A free copy of the report, which includes projects throughout North and South America and which documents the accuracy of wind energy resource assessment techniques against actual energy production, can be obtained by emailing publications@arcvera.com.
