VIEW FROM THE TOP
WIND TURBINE SUPPLIER BRANCHES OUT TO O&M, DIGITAL SOLUTIONS RAFAEL VALDEZ Managing Director Latin America and the Caribbean of Envision
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Q: What were the key elements behind the successful
efficiencies, load factor and other characteristics that set
development of Envision’s Yucatan project?
them apart. A project’s advance must be taken into account
A: When Envision launched its strategic association with
to mitigate default risks. Lack of rigorous admissibility criteria
Vive Energía, all required measurements were already carried
can foster speculative participation that outsources potential
out and certified by third parties, along with environmental
risks to third parties.
impact assessments and interconnection permits. Commercial contracts had been closed and PPAs had been
Q: How does Envision tackle intermittency?
signed as legacy contracts under self-supply provisions.
A: Besides the design and manufacture of wind turbines,
As a project developed prior to the Energy Reform, under
Envision also has an important software development
previous regulations, its characteristics were more within the
department. Our company offers energy asset management
financial entities’ comfort zone. We took the project one step
tools to operators — not limited wind power — to optimize
further by undergoing logistics studies to determine that the
portfolio performance. Envision manages close to 120GW
project site’s access points were optimal. We underwent all
through an international network of third-party operators,
due diligence processes and secured the interest of local
meaning we are managing between 15-20 percent of the
off-takers to ensure the bankability of the project. Yucatan,
world’s solar parks and wind farms through our management
in particular, is subject to anthropological issues. We sent a
software. Renewable energy asset optimization software
specialized team of 30 archaeologists to map all 1,500ha of
can simplify decision-making processes, allowing
the terrain where we found more than 2,000 archaeological
performance optimization under intermittency scenarios.
remains and set in motion an action plan to salvage and
We can visualize real-time power output in a single
move them, preserving the historical and cultural heritage of
platform fed by SCADAs, integrating other useful inputs,
the area. All these measures demonstrated full compliance
like meteorological forecasts for further predictability and
before banks supported Envision’s first project finance
information to improve analysis and decision-making and
scheme outside of China.
generate significant savings in the process.
Q: How would you rate the progression of Mexico’s long-term
Q: What are Envision’s expectations for 2018?
electricity auctions?
A: Globally, Envision has spent the last 11 years positioning
A: The Clearing House is a prime example of the improvement
itself as a major wind turbine supplier. We have a commitment
process we have see between each auction. The auction
over the next few years to supply 5GW of turbines with
design continues to be perfected, encompassing
an
different clients, and this will launch the company into the
increasing number of positive elements and players. We
wind turbine supplier Top 5 worldwide. Our diversification
believe fixed quotas per technology are coherent both with
strategy not only implies setting up shop in different locations
the objective of reducing energy costs and the necessity of
— Chile, Mexico, France and looking toward India and Australia
maintaining a balanced energy matrix, versus price-based
— it also means service portfolio diversification. Software
auctions that would not solve intermittency problems if solar
development is one business line we are actively pursuing,
power achieves a predominant footprint in the mix. Projects
while we also have a Silicon Valley-managed equity fund.
under equal terms can compete for logistics and production
We have invested in companies for electric vehicle charging stations and energy storage companies in the US. In 2018, we will launch both Yucatan wind farms, close a PPA legacy
Envision is a China-based smart energy solutions provider
contract for our Guanajuato project and branch out from
offering smart wind turbines, smart energy management
project development to digital solutions in the Mexican
software and technology services, with facilities established
market, where we can showcase our 160MW installed and
worldwide
operational capacity, showcasing reliability to our clients.
