The Sol do Cerrado solar complex, in Minas Gerais, Brazil, played a pivotal role in achieving
Vale’s goals. (Photo: Vale)

Having reached the target, Vale has zeroed its indirect CO2 emissions in Brazil, which correspond to Scope 2. The company still has the challenge of achieving 100% renewable energy consumption in its global operations by 2030. At the moment, the company said this indicator stands at 88.5%. “We are announcing an important milestone in Vale’s decarbonization strategy, which aims to reduce its scope 1 and 2 CO2 emissions (direct and indirect) by 33% by 2030 and to become net-zero by 2050,” said Ludmila Nascimento, director of energy and decarbonization for Vale. “As we are progressing on our targets, we are helping to make Brazil’s energy matrix even cleaner, contributing to society’s fight against climate change.”

The start-up of the Sol do Cerrado solar complex in November 2022 was key to achieving the target two years ahead of schedule. Located in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, the solar complex represented an investment of $590 million by Vale. It is one of the largest solar energy parks in Latin America, with an installed capacity of 766 Megawatts- peak, equivalent to the consumption of a city of 800,000 homes. In July 2023, the complex reached its maximum capacity. It has the potential of contributing to around 16% of all the electricity consumed by Vale in Brazil.

Vale’s path towards 100% renewable consumption can be traced to the 1990s, when the company acquired its first hydroelectric plants. Today, Vale is supplied by a renewable energy portfolio of 2.6 GW of installed capacity, equivalent to the consumption of more than 3 million homes. There are 14 assets held through direct and indirect participation in consortia and companies (10 hydroelectric plants, three wind farms and Sol do Cerrado). If it were a power generator, Vale would be the 15th largest in the country.

In its global operations, Vale is also moving towards 100% renewable energy consumption by 2030. The company invests in joint venture partnerships, renewable generation certificates in contracts (PPAs) and innovation initiatives for better efficiency in the use of batteries.

Vale said it is also working to reduce its direct Scope 1 emissions. In the mines and railroads, where diesel is currently intensively consumed. The company said it is studying the adoption of alternative fuels, such as ethanol for trucks and green ammonia for locomotives. In its iron ore pelletizing furnaces, the company said the strategy is to replace anthracite, with zero- emission biocarbon, made from the carbonization of biomass.

Last year, Vale signed an agreement with Wabtec for the supply of three electric locomotives and the start of studies into the development of a green ammonia-powered locomotive engine. The company also produced pellets with 100% biocarbon for the first time in an industrial test.