The new WEG manufacturing site, installed in Betim, state of Minas Gerais, will be holding the manufacture of 69 Central Solar E-Houses for the mining company Vale. The contract signed with Vale has been a key factor for WEG's decision to invest in Minas Gerais, generating 100 new jobs and fostering technological development in the state. The factory counts on 5000 square meters of manufacturing facilities for the production of central solar E-Houses and industrial E-Houses. 

The package of equipment for Vale is scheduled to be delivered from the second half of this year for Sol do Cerrado Project, in the municipality of Jaíba, northern region of the state. The mining company's project will occupy an area of over 1200 hectares and will be one of the largest photovoltaic energy generation parks in Brazil, with an installed capacity of 766 Megawatts-peak (MWp) and an energy generating capacity of 1.6 Gigawatts-hour per year (GWh / year). Operations are scheduled to start in the second half of 2022. 

Vale's investments in this Sol do Cerrado Project is in the range of US$ 500 million. “The efforts are intended to promote social and economic development in the regions where Vale holds its operations. In addition to generating more than a thousand jobs in the implementation phase of the project, with priority given to hiring local labor force, Vale felt honored to have collaborated with WEG´s important strategic decision, which will not only serve the Sol do Cerrado Project , but it will contribute to the technological development of Minas Gerais ”, says Marco Braga, Vale´s Supply Chain Director. Last year, the Vale invested about R$ 15 billion in purchases from state of Minas Gerais suppliers.

WEG will supply E-Houses with central solar frequency drives, which will transform the energy generated in the photovoltaic modules, allowing it to be availability into the Brazilian electrical interconnected grid for distribution and consumption. “This equipment is fully designed and manufactured in Brazil. The production of these E-Houses will already take place at our new plant in Betim, state of Minas Gerais. The contract not only starts the operations of our new factory, but also evidences our expertise to offer efficient solutions for such important project”, explains Manfred Peter Johann, Managing Director of WEG Automation Business Unit. 

Considered one of the most innovative companies in Brazil, WEG is a traditional provider of complete solutions for the solar energy segment. The company´s history of supplying EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) contracts has not only supported WEG to participate in the construction of strategic solar parks in Brazil, but it has also helped to create new business opportunities with supply of equipment for new plants.