RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – In addition to benefiting rural generators, schools, hospitals, and private homes, it can also be used as part of the government’s soon-to-be-launched industrial condominium revitalization program.
The government of the Brazilian state of Rio will provide R$80 million (US$17.2 million) to subsidize solar energy projects and boost investment in the sector.
The money will be managed in a fund set up by AgeRio and will not only benefit rural producers, schools, hospitals, and private homes but can also be used for the program to revitalize industrial areas that the government will soon launch.
The initiative was agreed upon at a meeting of the Secretariat of Economic Development, Energy and International Relations with representatives of the Brazilian Solar Energy Association (Absolar), concessionaires Light, Enel and Energisa, Codin, and AgeRio, and entrepreneurs in the sector.
Since 2012, solar power generation in Rio de Janeiro has attracted about R$1.9 billion in investments, created more than 10,200 jobs, and injected more than R$451 million into public coffers.
According to Absolar, there are currently 342.8 MW of solar energy in operation in the state of Rio in homes, businesses, industries, rural properties, and public buildings.
The region has 41,389 working connections distributed among the state’s 92 municipalities. Currently, 48,930 electricity consumers are already benefiting from lower electricity bills, greater autonomy, and reliability of electricity supply.
With information from PV magazine