Chilean solar developer Verano Energy has submitted an environmental impact assessment for its ambitious Horizonte de Verano solar project in Peru, outlining plans for a massive facility featuring a solar farm boasting a staggering 5.85GW capacity.
If the project proceeds according to Verano's specifications, it will surpass all existing single-site solar projects worldwide, more than doubling the size of India's 2.2GW Bhadla solar park. The generated power will fuel an ammonia production plant with an annual capacity of 1.65 million tons, marking Verano's entry into the green hydrogen and ammonia sectors.
Verano CEO Dylan Rudney expressed enthusiasm, stating, “This project takes us to a larger scale,” emphasizing its role as a groundbreaking green hydrogen gigaproject with global implications. The initiative aims to usher in a transformative shift away from polluting fuels and fertilizers, providing an environmentally sustainable solution.
Due to the colossal scale of the endeavor, Verano plans to commission the facility in stages. Anticipating permits from Peruvian authorities in the first half of 2025, the company aims to commence the first phase—a 1.5GW solar farm capable of producing over 420,000 tons of green ammonia annually—by mid-2027. Verano envisions full commissioning of the plant's capacity by early 2032.
While Verano has been active in the South American solar sector, recently selling a 150MW project in Argentina and acquiring a 300MW portfolio in Colombia, the magnitude of this project raises questions about effective oversight. The project's 5.85GW capacity is nearly equivalent to Peru's total electricity generation capacity of 7.2GW.
Peru's largest proposed solar project to date is Solarpack's 300MW San Martin project, which commenced construction earlier this month. While the Verano project is closely tied to ammonia and green hydrogen production, its sheer size could potentially catalyze a substantial shift in Peru's broader renewables industry. The extent of Verano's ability to manage a project of this magnitude remains a subject of scrutiny.
