The RS Solar Industry Program, which offers companies and their employees in the state of Rio Grande do Sul facilities for acquiring systems for photovoltaic solar energy generation, is already open for enrollments by interested parties through the website www.programaindustriasolarRS.com.br.

The Program is an initiative of the Federation of Industries for the State of Rio Grande do Sul (FIERGS) and ENGIE, which supplies and installs the systems in partnership with WEG, supported by Sicredi and the Banco Regional de Desenvolvimento do Extremo Sul (BRDE). Its aim is to provide greater efficiency and competitiveness in industrial production in the State, by offering a reduction in the cost of one of the most expensive inputs of productive activity: electric energy.

Photovoltaic solar energy is the most disseminated technology on the planet for the microgeneration of clean and renewable energy, an investment which is gaining increasing visibility in Brazil, a country with the highest levels of solar radiation on the planet.

National Electric Energy Agency (ANEEL) shows that there are already 38,610 mini and micro photovoltaic plants installed in Brazil and that the state of Rio Grande do Sul is third in the number of installations. The Solar Industry Program should stimulate still further the development of solar energy in the state in the same way as is already occurring in Santa Catarina, where the program was launched as a pioneering initiative by the Federation of Industries for the State of Santa Catarina (FIESC) in November 2017 and in the state of Mato Grosso, where it was launched in August 2018.

The electric energy has a significant impact on the cost of the industries and the savings obtained from the proprietary production of solar energy can represent an important business stimulus. “The technology is becoming increasingly more accessible and the investment represents an advantage both for residential consumers as well as for the productive sector”, explains Rodrigo Kimura, a director at ENGIE.

A self-financing investment

The calculations of the packages offered under the Solar Industry Program are made so that the values match on both sides of the equation: what is saved on the energy bill every month is used to pay off the monthly loan installment thus creating little or no impact on cash flow and rendering the investment self-financing.

With the photovoltaic solar system generating its own energy, the entrepreneur can save anything up to 95% of invoiced electricity billing value.  “Once the loan is settled, the company will have energy which is practically free, bearing in mind that maintenance costs of the panels is low and restricted to cleaning and maintenance of the structures”, Kimura adds.

The program offers industries in the state of Rio Grande do Sul – four standard models of photovoltaic systems in different price brackets and with power output varying between 13.2 kWp and 79.2 kWp. Models can be combined to adjust the total capacity of the photovoltaic system to the needs of the industry. Employees of corporate partners in the Program on the other hand are offered five options of residential systems which can be financed in up to 120 installments.

The initiative is spearheaded by ENGIE with the support of WEG, although both in Rio Grande do Sul as well as other states, partner companies are being accredited to work in the areas of installation and rendering of services.

How to enroll

Enrollment to the Solar RS Industry Program – both for industries and individuals – can be made through the website http://www.programaindustriasolarRS.com.br/ until mid-December 2018. 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, siting to be preferably to be 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% in 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 night.

 About those involved

FIERGS – Federation of the Industries for the State of Rio Grande do Sul (FIERGS) represents the industrial sector in the state of Rio Grande do Sul and its actions focus on fostering and developing the economy of the state and the country with a commitment for constituting a source of competitive instruments.

ENGIE – The largest generator of electricity in the private sector, ENGIE currently operates 32 plants throughout Brazil, 90% of its installed capacity powered from clean and renewable sources. The group also offers solutions for commercialization of energy and energy efficiency as well as services related to engineering and integration of systems.

WEG – Santa Catarina-based WEG is one of the largest manufacturers of electrical equipment in the world. With a broad-based line of products, the company always seeks for its operations efficiency, reduction of costs and increased productivity, offering clients through its products these same values. Among its missions are continuous and sustainable growth together with innovation.

Sicredi – Is a financial cooperative which is committed to the growth of its associates and with the development of the regions where it operates. The management model valorizes the participation of 3.8 million associates which exercise the role of owner of the business. With a nationwide presence, Sicredi has 116 cooperatives in 22 states plus the Federal District. It operates out of 1,611 branches and creates 24.1 thousand direct jobs in 1,229 municipalities in Brazil. With a footprint in 204 Brazilian municipalities, Sicredi is the sole financial institution present.