University of São Paulo: Solar power generation can replace dependence on the hydroelectric system
The use of solar energy for power generation has been growing in Brazil as a way of dealing with issues such as rising tariffs. The investment to install the necessary structure in a four-person house, for example, is around R$ 20 thousand, amortized over a period of three to four years, according to Pedro Luiz Côrtes, a professor at the School of Communications and Arts (ECA) and from the Institute of Energy and Environment (IEE) at USP.
The consumer can add the energy expenses to arrive at the value of the monthly installment of the financing. The value of the installment is fixed and independent of changes in the price of electricity throughout the year. “From the middle of last year to now, we have had a growth in the supply of generation capacity [of solar energy] of 46%, according to data from the National Electric System Operator, that is, a very expressive growth”, says the professor.
The solar generation system available in Brazil is the On Grid, in which the consumer installs solar panels and remains connected to the distribution grid. There may be excess energy generated at certain times of the day, which is injected into the public distribution network, “so the domestic consumer becomes a small generator too, […] and, with that, he gets credits in terms of kilowatts -hour (kWh)”, explains the professor. During the night, the consumer uses this surplus, as the use of batteries is not authorized in the country.
zero consumption
In autumn and winter, energy generation is reduced with the decrease in solar incidence typical of these seasons, which is compensated with credits from the months of higher generation. “Systems are usually designed to meet the average consumption throughout the year, so in certain months you will consume more energy from the grid to compensate for what you were unable to generate with your own system, and in other months you will be with credits”, explains the professor. At the end of a year, the idea is to reduce energy consumption from the grid, with credits valid for five years.