Comerc Energia and textile company Cedro e Cachoeira await regulatory approval to form a solar self‑generation consortium at the Hélio Valgas complex in Minas Gerais.
The pursuit of energy efficiency and sustainability in the national manufacturing sector gains a new strategic push. Comerc Energia and the traditional textile firm Cedro e Cachoeira are advancing a partnership to jointly exploit solar power.
The deal envisions the creation of a consortium focused on the photovoltaic plants Hélio Valgas 5 and Hélio Valgas 6. The initiative will allow the fabric manufacturer to meet a substantial portion of its industrial demand with renewable energy.
The transaction is already under review by the Conselho Administrativo de Defesa Econômica (Cade) and will also require authorization from the Agência Nacional de Energia Elétrica (Aneel) to be finalized.
Agreement structure and self‑generation format
The proposed model has Cedro participating in the consortium as the owner of a share of the projects in a lease‑to‑own arrangement. This leasing structure enables direct access to the electricity generated.
Under the arrangement, the textile company will operate as a self‑producer of energy. The advantage of the model is that it uses solar plants already in full commercial operation, eliminating the need to wait for new construction.
The operation enables shared exploitation of operational plants, aligning with the strategy of structuring customized self‑generation solutions for large consumers.
Scale of the solar complex in Minas Gerais
The assets involved in the agreement are part of the Hélio Valgas solar complex, located in the municipality of Várzea da Palma, in northern Minas Gerais, about 300 kilometers from the state capital.
The project is one of the flagship initiatives in Comerc Energia‘s regional portfolio. The complex has a total installed capacity of 662 MWp and received approximately R$ 2 billion in investment.
The advancement of this partnership reinforces the trend of large industries seeking cost predictability and decarbonization through the free market. With the approval of Cade and Aneel, the project will strengthen the clean generation ecosystem and the competitiveness of Brazil’s industrial sector.