Increase in solar energy consumption in Brazil

The solar energy sector has celebrated Brazil’s growing adoption of photovoltaic power generation systems.

The largest country in South America has surpassed the 19 gigawatts (GW) mark in installed photovoltaic solar source capacity.

Of that total, 13 GW is installed on rooftops, facades, and small properties, with large-scale systems accounting for the remainder. This figure is considered historical in the industry.

The Itaipu hydroelectric plant has an installed capacity of 14 GW. It makes solar power the third largest energy producer in the country, behind hydropower and wind energy.

Capturing sunlight through photovoltaic panels and converting that light into energy accounts for 9.6% of the country’s power grid.

From January to September, there was a 46.1% increase, with an average growth of 1 GW per month in the last one hundred and twenty days.

The data comes from the Brazilian Association of Photovoltaic Solar Energy (Absolar).

Based on this, the National Confederation of Industries (CNI) estimates that installed capacity could double by the beginning of 2023.

One of the reasons for the forecast is the incentive for consumers to install the system in their homes by reducing the tariff.

Under Law 14.300/2022, which establishes the legal framework for decentralized micro- and mini-generation, consumers who install solar systems in their homes and businesses by 2023 will pay lower tariffs until 2045.

The tariff is calculated only on the positive difference between the amount consumed and the sum of the electrical energy fed into the grid that month.

The energy generated by sunlight is clean energy that does not produce waste or pollution.

According to “Absolar”, this type of energy has avoided the emission of 27.8 million tons of CO2 in electricity generation.

However, the cost of installation is not small. For households, the average installation price is R$25,000 (US$4,825), and for industry, R$200,000. The price has decreased.

According to “Solstar”, a company in the sector, the cost has decreased by forty-four percent in the last six years.

There is also a tax incentive, namely the exemption from VAT on sales and services (ICMS) when selling the complete kit (inverter + modules). “Solstar” also points out the opening of credit lines for purchasing photovoltaic systems.

SUSTAINABILITY

For “CNI”, Brazilian companies have sought to adopt the sustainable agenda and meet the commitment signed by Brazil to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions established in the Paris Agreement.

Latin America’s largest economy has pledged to reduce emissions by thirty-seven percent by 2025 and fifty percent by 2030.

“Many companies have invested in energy efficiency projects. This means using less energy to achieve the same result, which can be achieved through technological improvements or changes in companies’ energy management,” explained Davi Bomtempo, Environment and Sustainability Manager at CNI.

With information from Latina Press