Engie to install bitcoin mining and storage at massive new Brazil solar plant

The local manager of the French utility said that Engie was looking to install storage systems or bitcoin mining data centres at its new solar plant in Brazil, "to make it more profitable."

Eduardo Sattamini is the Engie Country Manager for Brazil.

He told journalists last week that he was looking into possible offtakers.

Assu, located in northeast Brazil has 895MWp of installed capacity and began full commercial operations last month. Sattamini stated that the production was curtailed by 'curtailments' made to balance Brazil’s power grid. He did not specify how much of the?production had been affected.

Since 2023, curtailment has been a major problem for solar and wind farm owners in Brazil. This has caused energy companies to lose billions of reais.

The rise in "wasted" electricity is due to a combination of new renewable energy plants, weak demand growth and infrastructure constraints, as well as a rapid expansion of distributed generation.

Sattamini said that data centers for bitcoin mining and storage are being considered as a way to manage the issue in Assu Sol. However, this is not a quick-fix.

"That won't be here next month. He said it would take us a couple of years to implement. (Reporting by Leticia Fucuchima in Sao Paulo and Fabio Teixeira in Rio de Janeiro; Editing by Susan Fenton)

(source: Reuters)