The report that shows the follow-up of the implementation of electric energy generating centers, prepared and updated by the National Electric Energy Agency (Aneel), estimates that in 2023 the commercial operation of another 93 solar energy plants will begin, which will add another 3,870, 52 MegaWatts (MW) to the National Interconnected System (SIN).
According to the follow-up, the 93 plants are under construction and with high feasibility of installation. Despite this, the report indicates that of the total number of works, 71 are behind schedule, 12 are ahead of schedule and 10 are progressing normally.
The completion of the works will reinforce a matrix that has been breaking continuous generation records. According to data from the Brazilian Association of Photovoltaic Solar Energy (Absolar), currently, 24 GW (GigaWatts) of solar energy are in operation. In addition, another R$ 121.6 billion in new investments are planned, the generation of 720,000 new jobs, not to mention more than R$ 38.2 billion in taxes collected. But one of the main advantages of solar energy is its ability to avoid the emission of carbon dioxide (CO²) into the atmosphere. It is estimated that the installed capacity prevented the emission of 33.4 million tons of this gas.
In the evaluation of civil engineer Lucas Cabral Gouvea, specialized in renewable energies, some factors may explain the growth of solar energy generation in the last decade. Among these factors are easier access to the product, tax benefits, such as exemption from ICMS on the sale of the complete installation kit; in addition to the promise of a 95% reduction in the cost of the electricity bill for the next 25 years, at least.
“These are factors that made the sector take off in these 10 years, going from non-existent in the energy matrix in 2012, to 11.2% in 2022, becoming the second most used source in the country, passing the wind source and second only to the water source, which is still responsible for 51.3% of our matrix”, he comments.
New law will guarantee more legal security for the sector, defends expert
With 10 years of experience in the solar energy market, Lucas Gouvea believes that the approval of Law 14.300/22, considered the new Solar Legal Framework in Brazil and in force since the last January 6th, brings important changes to the sector. One of the main ones is greater legal certainty, since the normative resolutions that dealt with the subject, such as Normative Resolution 482/12, edited by Aneel, might be changed more easily.
Another definition brought by the new law highlights that those who already have the solar system installed will have energy credits unchanged until the end of 2045. The norm also defines that there will be 1 kilowatt of credit for every 1 kilowatt injected into the grid. According to Gouvea, the new law also determines that there will no longer be double charging of the minimum fee, there is a guarantee of greater possibility of creating shared solar plants, in addition to ensuring easier distribution of energy credits, since the deadline for changes has reduced from 60 to 30 days.
“There are two items in the law that are still pending analysis and regulation by Aneel. It is the permission to legally install hybrid systems with batteries and the permission to sell energy credits to the concessionaire. Another evolution in the legislation is that credits are now allowed to be discounted between energy concessionaires and permit holders”, he points out.
A decade of evolution in financing and equipment for solar energy installation
In addition to updating legislation, the last 10 years were important for the evolution of financing for access to the solar energy matrix, which also ensured the evolution of installation equipment. According to Lucas Gouvea, in 2012, most photovoltaic equipment was imported from China, which charged payment in advance or in cash, which hampered access for most of those interested in joining the system.
“This problem opened up a market for financial institutions, which saw through government subsidies the possibility of offering Direct Consumer Credit (CDC) lines, since it was a durable good and a social and ecological benefit”, he comments.
In the last decade, the greater demand from consumers and greater investment in research, also under the leadership of the giant from the East, made it possible to increase the power of the equipment sold. “While in 2012 the modules were marketed with a power of 260 Watts (W), today modules of 600W or more are common. Investment in this technology was led by China, which today is by far the largest supplier on a world scale, responsible for a share of more than 80% of all module manufacturing in the world”, he concludes.
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