One of the leading projects in the State of Sao Paulo has partnered a German company (ee-Nord) and a company from the State of Santa Catarina (Elektsolar), and its purpose is to develop a 1-MWp community solar power plant in Ubirajara, in the hinterland of SP, under the Distributed Generation model.
Check our talk with Mr Siqueira Neto, Elektsolar’s CEO (here)
1. How does Elektsolar operate in Brazil?
We are a staff training and qualification company in the solar energy area, and we started our activities in 2013 by providing the first courses on photovoltaic solar energy.
One of our main differentials is to offer educational services, but we also provide consultancy, engineering and integration (civil work execution) services. We develop knowledge and then apply it. We employ highly qualified engineers, and today we are considered the main company to provide training in that area in Brazil.
2. How did you come up with the project and the idea of doing something for the community of Ubirajara, in the hinterland of Sao Paulo?
The project had already been under development for some years, and with the Low Carbon Business Action in Brazil program’s support we now have the ideal partner to implement it.
We already knew the city of Ubirajara and that location has an adequate structure to receive a project to implement a community photovoltaic solar power plant (electric conditions, proximity to the local highway, good soil conditions...etc.). With the distributed generation model devised by ANEEL it will be possible to utilize energy credits in differentiated areas.
3. What other benefits distributed energy generation might provide, in addition to reducing electricity bills and contributing to preserve the environment?
I am sure the main benefit is ensuring energy efficiency, both for the companies and for the local population, but we should not forget that it should enable generating local jobs, qualifying the local workforce, and boosting the local economy… And another advantage is that Brazil has assumed a commitment at the global level within the scope of COP21 (Paris Agreement) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The country will have to fulfil that commitment, and with our projects we are collaborating with Brazil to achieve emission reduction goals and fight climate change.
4. How has been your synergy with ee-Nord as a partner company, and which results do you intend to achiever?
That is a company specialized in low carbon engineering. And they had already put Brazil under their radar, because it is a country with a huge renewable solar energy generation capacity. We met during one of the Matchmaking events held in Fortaleza, and during those meetings we became increasingly closer and built mutual trust.
5. What kinds of specialized services do you need in order to implement the project?
Legal consultancy, because it involves a foreign company directly investing in Brazil.
6. How do you see LCBA’S initiative?
I am sure the most important trump card has been to approximate partners having the same synergies in this market. We are providing engineering services and personnel, and they are providing the necessary capital. Together we are contributing to fight climate change.
