This Thursday, August 2, the Federation of the Industries for the State of Mato Grosso (FIEMT), ENGIE and WEG are to launch the MT Solar Industry Program. The aim is to encourage industries in Mato Grosso together with their employees to invest in self-generation of photovoltaic solar energy. The incentive to use solar energy is one of the pillars of the Sustainable Energy of Industry Program (PESI), an initiative of the Federation that seeks to offer solutions for reliable energy generation as well as efficient consumption for industry. “Our aim is to increase the competitiveness of the sector in the state of Mato Grosso, giving an incentive to industry to work on the questions which most affect the sector in the state in the light of the fact that we have one of the highest energy costs in the country”, explains the president of the FIEMT system, Jandir Milan.

Mato Grosso has 11 thousand industries which according to one study of the Federation of Industries of the State of Rio de Janeiro (FIRJAN), are among those which pay the highest electricity tariffs in the country, oscillating in the first few places in the highest prices ranking.  “The MT Solar Industry Program can be viewed as a very attractive alternative for companies in the state of Mato Grosso, offering industries a solar solution combined with a menu of financing options for ensuring the viability of the business”, explains Rodrigo Kimura, director of Operations for ENGIE Geração Solar Distribuída. The company works in partnership with WEG for the supply of equipment and for the implementation of the Program both in the state of Mato Grosso as well as in Santa Catarina, the state where the Solar Industry Program was pioneered as a result of an initiative of the Federation of the Industries for the State of Santa Catarina (FIESC).

The Mato Grosso Program offers in all seven models of photovoltaic generators, four of which are industrial models and three for residential use – given that the program is designed to benefit individuals working in the industries as well – the models being susceptible to customization in accordance with the needs of the client. Differentiated prices and special conditions of finance render the investment as self-financing since the value of each monthly installment of the financing will be close or equal to the monthly amount of the electricity bill. “The calculations are made so that offers under the Program are made in such a way that the values on both sides of the equation match each other: what is saved on the electricity bill can be used to repay the installment of the financing, resulting in minimal impact on the companies’ cash flow”, Kimura explains. Companies affiliated to trade associations and in turn associated with FIEMT, enjoy an even greater discount on prices.

By investing in a photovoltaic system for generating their own energy, the entrepreneur can save as much as 96% on the energy bill. “Indeed, when the loan is paid off, the company will have energy practically free of charge since maintenance cost of the solar paneling is low and restricted to cleaning and maintenance of the structures”, says Kimura.  In addition, by acquiring a photovoltaic system, self-generation of energy protects the investor from energy price hikes. It is as if an entrepreneur had built up a stock of a given amount of energy to be supplied constantly over a period of 25 years – which is the guaranteed period of the photovoltaic panels. Consequently, the investor will always have that amount of energy available to him for the amount paid for the investment and without being subject to price variations.

Enrollments through the Program’s website

The period for enrollments to the MT Solar Industry Program will be three months when both companies and also private individuals may register in the website http://www.programaindustriasolarmt.com.br/.  Interested parties should complete the information and attach a copy of the electricity bill. Once the preliminary proposal is accepted, the following step in the process is the technical evaluation stage when the location of the future solar energy plant is analyzed, preferably to be sited facing north and free of shade. This stage also includes an analysis of the level of energy consumption and the recommended power output. The photovoltaic modules have a performance guarantee of 90% in the first 12 years and 80% over 25 years.

How the technology works

The photovoltaic solar system generates electricity from the sun’s rays. Normally installed on rooftops, this is the most disseminated technology on the planet for the microgeneration of clean and renewable energy. Households and companies that have these systems produce the energy they consume. Any surplus is injected into the electricity network and is transformed into credits with the distributor. Such credits are valid for five years and can be used when the unit is consuming more energy than is being generated, examples being on rainy days or at nighttime.

National Electric Energy Data (ANEEL) data shows that Mato Grosso today has 754 consumer units with distributed generation including types of generation, solar, wind, hydric and thermoelectric, distributed in 941 units and with an installed capacity of 15,730.70 kW.

ENGIE and WEG are responsible for the accrediting of suppliers for installation and rendering of services.

Both ENGIE and WEG are partners and in the forefront of the Solar industry Program in Mato Grosso and in Santa Catarina, although in the two states, the companies are seeking local partners for the implementation of the Program. This is providing opportunities in installation and services to those entities interested in becoming accredited partners. ENGIE and WEG should be contacted for more information.

About those involved:

WEG

Founded in 1961, WEG operates principally in the capital goods sector and is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of electro-electronic equipment, operating with five principal lines of business: Motors, Energy, Transmission & Distribution, Automation and Paints. With industrial operations in 12 countries and a commercial footprint in more than 100, the company attends all segments of industry including oil and gas, mining, infrastructure, steel, pulp and paper, renewable energy, among many others. With more than 30 thousand employees, the company reported net sales revenue of R$ 9.5 billion in 2017.

ENGIE

ENGIE is committed to sustainable growth in order to meet the major challenges of the energy transition towards a more decarbonized, decentralized and digitalized world. The Group’s aim is to become a leader of this new world of energy by focusing on three key activities for the future: a low carbon production, especially based on natural gas and renewable power, energy infrastructure and efficient solutions adapted to the needs of its customers (individuals, companies and regions). Customer satisfaction, innovation and digital solutions are the principal drivers of development at ENGIE. In Brazil, ENGIE is the largest private sector producer of energy, operating an installed capacity of 10,898.8 MW from 31 plants throughout the country and accounting for approximately 6% of the nation’s capacity. The Group also operates in the distributed solar generation area and offers services related to energy, engineering and integration of systems, operating in the development of telecoms and security systems, public lighting and urban mobility for smart cities, infrastructures and the oil and gas industry. With 2,100 employees, ENGIE reported sales revenue in 2017 from its Brazilian operations of R$ 7 billion.