Brazilian foreign trade company expects growth of 12% in imports of solar panels in 2021. Federal Government predicts that by 2027 hydroelectric plants will have a 51% drop in energy participation, while alternative sources of energy generation should jump to 28%.
Although about 90% of the electric energy in the national territory comes from hydroelectric plants, about a fifth of what is produced is wasted in the transmission of energy to consumption centers, as in the example of Itaipu. Losses that result in at least 5% of the tariff paid by the consumer. One of the ways to circumvent these energy losses in the country is to opt for distributed solar energy. By 2027, according to the Federal Government, hydroelectric power plants will lose space for renewable energy and fall to 51% in terms of energy participation, while alternative sources are expected to jump to 28%.
For the director of the Brazilian foreign trade company Tek Trade Rogério Marin, responsible for importing 4 MegaWhats of energy in photovoltaic panels in 2020, the main path will be the incentive to the implantation of renewable energy plants and the increase of micro generation of distributed solar energy by the population.
“Energies from renewable sources are among the sustainable actions prioritized by several countries. In Brazil, recently, the Federal Government zeroed the import tax for solar equipment until December 31, 2021, respecting some criteria, which should boost the market even more. As the economy and the exchange rate return to normal, the measure should stimulate the creation of new projects, both residential and business. Even those who are not in the industry realize, analyzing the numbers, that it is worth investing in a system like this, where it is possible to obtain a return on investment and, in many cases, exchange the electricity bill for the monthly amount of the system’s financing. ”, Says Marin.
The director estimates that the growth in imports of solar panels by Tek Trade should increase by 15% in 2021, compared to 2020, and continue to grow for the next few years. An opportunity for businessmen interested in working with the distribution and installation of equipment, which is also seen as a solution for the resumption of economic growth, of countries and companies in the post-pandemic.
“Solar energy will be one of the protagonists in this scenario of renewing the Brazilian energy matrix. The fact is that we must question the waste of electric energy in Brazil and reflect on the real efficiency of the hydroelectric plants that are most insecure because they depend on and generate great environmental impact. For the construction of a hydroelectric plant, for example, several factors are required, such as: dam installations, diversion of the river course and land expropriation. These are attitudes that cause problems to fauna and flora and the silting of rivers. Another factor is that this capacity is often found in indigenous lands or in conservation units. Solar energy, in addition to being completely clean and sustainable, has an uncomplicated installation and its results are immediate. That is, you acquire the solar plate,
Another factor pointed out by Marin is that the main hydroelectric plants in Brazil, that is, those that generate more energy, are located on the Paraná River, on the Brazil-Paraguay border. Therefore, when transporting this energy to the rest of the country, at least 20% of the resource is lost in transmission over the network, directly affecting the quality of the electricity supplied in some regions. The solar panel is easy to install and its raw material – the sunlight – is inexhaustible and free.
“Solar energy had its value reduced by almost 90% in the last ten years (Absolar). In addition, more and more we have easier financing possibilities. Encouraging access to this solution that has grown so quickly is the path to a more sustainable future ”, he argues.
