From December, the city of Itajubá, located along the edge of the Mantiqueira Mountain Range, in the south of the state of Minas Gerais, will enjoy the benefits of a cinema powered by photovoltaic solar energy.  Cine A Itajubá is a spacious complex with four exhibition halls, a capacity to receive up to 700 movie goers, as well as two restaurants, open air fitness center, a space to practice yoga, slackline, meditation and dancing.

The project and installation of ENGIE, the photovoltaic system comprises 450 modules, either located on the rooftop of the parking lot (carport type) and a ground level installation. The system is expected to satisfy the complex’s entire demand. At an investment of R$ 661 thousand, the project is to provide annual savings of about R$ 150 thousand and an estimated return at between three and four years. “This is a pioneering project in the entertainment segment of which ENGIE is proud to be a part”, says Rodrigo Kimura, executive director for photovoltaic solutions at ENGIE. “In addition to contributing to a more sustainable future for the planet, the photovoltaic system makes for immediate savings in the monthly energy bill, rendering the investment self-financing”, he concludes.

The city of Itajubá has a population of 97 thousand (IBGE, 2017) and the energy generated from the photovoltaic plant is sufficient to supply 152 homes in Itajubá, based on an average Brazilian household consumption of 157 KWh per month.

Green building

The total investment is R$ 14 million and includes a series of initiatives enabling the project to obtain certification from LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), an international entity which classifies buildings using renewable energy and other prerequisites of sustainability and design. In addition to the photovoltaic plant, the cinema has both a system for capturing rainwater with the capacity to supply 50% of the complex’s consumption and also a service for collecting electronic trash – cinema patrons can bring their used electronic devices for correct disposal.  The use of alternative means of transportation is also stimulated with bike parks and charging facilities for electric cars.

“Movie buffs need more street-side cinemas. The world needs more social actions and intelligent constructions. This is our proposal with the construction of this modern, innovative and self-sustaining complex. Together, let’s build a clean place, rich in culture and full of emotion”, says Silvio Gutierris, Rede Cine A’s director, who in addition to Minas Gerais, also owns cinemas in the states of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Pará.

ENGIE is leader in the distributed solar generation market, chalking up more than 2,000 systems already installed. The company is a major operator in residential and corporate photovoltaic systems with important projects in agribusiness and the industrial métier in the pipeline. A highlight is the Solar Industrial Program which is being implemented by ENGIE and the federations of industries in the states of Santa Catarina (FIESC), Mato Grosso (FIEMT) and Rio Grande do Sul (FIERGS).

How it works

The photovoltaic panels at Itajubá’s Cine A are installed both at ground level and on the rooftop over the parking lot. The sun’s rays on the components of the photovoltaic cells generate a continuous electric current. This current is transferred to an inverter which converts into an alternate current, enabling the complex’s electrical equipment to be powered. When the system is generating more energy than is being consumed, the excess is injected into the network and transformed into credits with the power concessionaire. This surplus will then be used automatically in periods when there is no generation such as at nighttime and during rainy days. The systems are readily installed, with no major works and constructions required. What is needed is an area free of shade and where there is a rooftop which this must be north facing. Solar panels have a low maintenance cost and a durability of 25 years.