Monthly Archives: February 2016

Brasil

Solar Thermal Brazil

Leave a comment

According to the IEA, Brazil is 4th in solar thermal installed capacity in the world ranking, but 32nd in solar thermal energy per capita among 57 countries.

Irradiation is extremely high in Brazil. The lowest level is in Santa Catarina, still 30% higher than the average in Germany.

Between 2009 and 2013, the Brazilian production of solar collectors grew at an annual average of over 15%, reaching an installed capacity of 9,6 million m2.

In 2012 Brazil accounted 1/3 global market of flat and pool heating collectors produced, with 965 MW, followed by Germany and the US.

Was the 5th country in solar collectors installed in 2013.

One aspect to improve are laws and regulations.

Many municipal laws are being implemented since 2006 and a few are already a reality in some cities like São Paulo.

Proposals to offer incentives for clean technologies and discounts on electricity fee to facilities equipped with solar water heating are also implemented.

In 2014, the Brazilian solar thermal park production reached 7,354 GWh from a total area of 11,24 million m2 of solar collectors installed in the country.

This year, collectors for solar water heating production grew by 4,5%, with the installation of 1,44 million m2 of collectors.

Considering a residential consumption average of 166 kWh / month, this amount of energy is enough to power 3,7 million households over one year. The city of São Paulo has 3,9 million homes.

Higher sales of solar thermal systems in 2014 were recorded in the Southeast with 61,94%, followed by the South with 21,81%, the Center-West with 10,44%. Regions with less market share were Northeast and North, with 4,51% and 1,69%, respectively.

51% of sales in 2014 was allocated to the residential segment, compared to 9% in 2013.

But the big news was use of solar energy in industry expanding. 17% in 2014 compared to 3% in 2013.

By contrast, housing programs sales was reduced from 19% to 16% in 2014.

Commercial and services segments also recorded a 16% in 2014.

The Basic Sanitation Company of São Paulo State (Sabesp) has installed a Treatment Plant Wastewater solar heater in Taubaté and Trebembé cities. The system heat water to 55 ° C for two centrifuges and other washing elements.

Low-income families in towns of Lorraine and Cachoeira Paulista, in São Paulo state, will benefit from the project “Good Solar Energy”, which envisages the installation of solar thermal energy in more than 383 homes, plus kits with fluorescent lamps.

Brasil

Solar Brazil

Leave a comment

Brazil is rich in natural resources. 44% of its energy comes from renewables.

Is the leader in biofuels production and has a very important contribution of hydroelectric plants.

It is between developing countries with most installed wind power, especially in the coastal area of Maranhao, Piaui, Ceara and Rio Grande do Norte.

The PROINFA program established the incorporation of 3300 MW of renewable energy. Large investments in wind and biomass were performed. However, solar has not been considered in energy integration; especially in large-scale plants connected to the grid.

The green energy Brazilian matrix was envied by many nations and the government was convinced that the country had the status of economic superpower.

Three-quarters of Brazil’s electricity came from hydroelectric plants and automobiles are moved mainly by sugar cane ethanol.

The country had just discovered huge oil reserves off its coast.

Today the picture is not as promising.

Oil production is falling and electricity rationing is discussed, which further depress the economy.

The problems began when Brazil tried to increase control over their resources and it spooked investors.

They deepened because the country has a strong dependence on hydroelectric (2/3 generation) and faces one of its worst droughts.

The reality is that Brazil’s power sector is plagued by inefficiencies.

The new oil law passed in 2010 sought to ensure state control over large deposits discovered under the sea off the states of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, demanding that Petrobras increase its controlling interest in the exploration and production.

Companies with long-term projects in Brazil reduced their plans or simply left the country.

But most damaging were gasoline prices policies.

The government prevented to Petrobras raise the prices of gasoline and diesel to contain inflation and the company incurred their first losses in 13 years.

The artificially cheap gasoline turned uncompetitive the local biofuels industry. The producers responded by cutting production, which shot ethanol prices.

Each liter of gasoline takes 1/4 of ethanol, so that increased the cost of gasoline.

To prevent an inflation increase, the government reduced the percentage of ethanol in the mixture at 20% at the end of 2011.

With refineries at full capacity, Petrobras was forced to import gasoline at market prices and sell at a loss.

The other big blow was the government’s plan to force a 20% fall in electricity prices in 2014, sliding that electricity companies would have to settle for lower profit margins.

The investor response was to sell companies shares. Eletrobras shares, the largest generator in Latin America, lost this year more than 2 decades of profits.

Although solar energy was not considered in the PROINFA and there is no state strategy to encourage it, Brazil has implemented several programs especially for electrification in rural communities.

The most important has been the PRODEEM, which was a leap for local solar industry know-how with a significant involvement in research and universities.

The other was the “Light for All” program, promoted by the state government in 2003 with the ambitious goal of bringing electricity to 10 million people.

Bolivia

Solar Photovoltaic Bolivia

2 Comments

Until the first half of the 90s, the installed capacity in Bolivia was 5.000 photovoltaic systems mainly for telecommunications and rural households’ electrification.

During the second half of the decade, more than 5.000 systems were installed in the department of Santa Cruz in a project promoted by CRE distributor, with funding from the Netherlands Kingdom Embassy.

In addition to this, projects financed by NRECA in the so called “Yungas” region of La Paz department and Energética in Cochabamba (Chimboata and Intikanchay projects) were also implemented.

Since the year 2000, more than 2.000 systems are being installed per year from projects such as those implemented by the Social Investment Fund (FIS) and the La Paz department Prefecture.

The number of installed systems to date exceeds 35.000.

According to data provided by Energética NGO, 83,4% of existing photovoltaic solar installations are for home use, 16,3% for social using (health centers, educational units, churches, seniors centers, unions) and 0,3% are for productive use (spinning centers, craft centers, pumping systems).

Most facilities are located in the departments of Cochabamba, Oruro and Potosi.

There are three important aspects that can favor the country’s photovoltaic development:

1- The manufacture of components by Bolivian companies. One company has included photovoltaic system batteries in its offer and another produces charge controllers, PL-type fluorescent lamps and voltage converters.

2- The training of human resources in this technology, which has been included within technical training centers’ curriculums, which allows to provide the labor needed to support a significant rate of implementations.

3- Installations’ quality. Bolivia was the first country in the region to have own regulations that guarantee quality. They were developed by the BOL / 97 / G31 project implemented by the Department of Electricity and Alternative Energies financed by UNDP / GEF and issued by the Bolivian Institute for Standards and Quality (IBNORCA).

Although photovoltaic technology in Bolivia has reached a certain maturity, it still has challenges ahead. Especially in the field of productive uses which should enable rural people to increase their income. Thus, it would fulfill a great purpose: to bring development to rural areas.

The second phase of the first solar power plant was recently inaugurated in the country (the 1st phase was delivered in September 2014) with a capacity of 5.1 MW and located in Villa Bush (Pando).

Cobija Photovoltaic Solar Plant will provide continuous power to the municipalities of Cobija, Porvenir, Filadelfia, Bella Flor and Puerto Rico.

The project’s total investment was U$D 11 million. The National Electricity Company (ENDE) invested U$D 4.98 million (47%), while the Danish Cooperation made a non-repayable contribution of U$D 6 million (53%).

Energy from Cobija Photovoltaic Solar Plant is expected to substitute the consumption of 1.9 million liters (0.43 million Gallons) of diesel per year.

The projected Oruro Department solar plant will have a capacity of 20 MW and its construction will involve the investment of U$D 45 million.

Bolivia

Solar Thermal Bolivia

2 Comments

In Bolivia, it is estimated that solar thermal installations will increase at a pace of around 500 per year across the country.

This growth is obviously too slow considering Bolivia’s solar potential.

Its radiation is so high that many applications of solar thermal energy could be used.

However, the domestic market is emerging and there are few companies dedicated to this technology.

The most active area is located in the central region of Cochabamba where there are 5 companies that are mainly engaged in thermosiphon equipment installations.

In Bolivia, energy is only available to a small proportion of the population. Broad sectors of poor people in rural areas are not connected to the public electricity network.

The electricity and gas distribution network do not reach these remote regions because this expansion would not result in profits for suppliers.

The use of solar thermal energy has an enormous potential for providing hot water to communities in the highlands, where there are very low temperatures that adversely affect the region’s production and people’s daily activities.

Weather conditions in the Bolivian highlands are extreme due to night frosts. Water from pits or pipes have a very low temperature and therefore it needs to be heated by electricity or gas for people’s personal hygiene and for washing clothes and various items.

As Bolivia is located near the Equator, solar radiation is very high and with no variation between summer and winter periods. Therefore, there are ideal conditions for using solar energy in water heating.

From all of the above, it is clear that the key to overcoming this situation is to stimulate the solar thermal products market growth through policies that affect both supply and demand in the departments of La Paz, Oruro and Cochabamba.

This would contribute to poverty alleviation, environmental conservation and natural resources protection.

From a business point of view, this would encourage the establishment of many companies in the area.

The spread of this technology is currently limited in Bolivia by:

– Technological shortcomings

– Lack of means for certification rating

– Inefficient structures in service, sales and maintenance

– Distrust of potential users

– High production and services costs originated in limited production and sales volumes

– Poor access to financing

– Lack of state incentives (financing, subsidies or tax exemptions).