Solar Energy Reduces Costs on Farms in Brazil

Solar Energy Reduces Costs on Farms by Stimulating Irrigation

Plant with 1,150 photovoltaic panels is reality in Goiás

With the rising cost of electricity, rural producers are looking for alternatives to reduce energy expenditures in agricultural activities.

Although Brazil lags behind other countries when it comes to renewable energy, some regions are making rapid progress in this segment.

In Goiás, for example, there are approximately 270 projects of small solar power plants in the rural area, according to Luiz Carlos Figueiredo, a rural producer and president of the Association of Irrigators of the State of Goiás.

"Alternative energies are now widespread and are cheaper than producing hydroelectric power, " says Figueiredo. At Fazenda Figueiredo, in Cristalina (GO), he invested in a floating photovoltaic solar plant a year ago.

"The photovoltaic plant is working and it is a project that we want to follow from now on and see the cost-benefit," says the producer.

The energy generated by the photovoltaic panels still does not meet the entire demand of the farm, but is already being used to meet the needs of the milk production of the property.

The first floating photovoltaic plant installed in Brazil Floating plant This was the first floating photovoltaic plant installed in Brazil.

The project was installed on top of a lake that is used for the capture of rainwater. "

I saw this as a necessity to make savings and saw that it was a good deal. We have a fantastic climate to produce voltaic energy anywhere in Brazil. "

He says that photovoltaic solar energy feeds the milking system, the feed mill and the comfort of the animals.

We have very great potential for producing solar energy!

With a herd of 2,000 animals and 900 lactating cows, milk production is approximately 30 thousand liters per day.

The installation of the project

The rural producer says that the idea was to start with a pilot project and to evolve in the next years.

Currently, production is estimated at 50 megawatts-hour / month (MWh / month).

According to Figueiredo, the installation of the plant was fast and, depending on the area, a plant of this size can be installed in up to three months.

"We are optimistic to migrate to irrigation," says Figueiredo. "But when we irrigate the cost is very high.

If we produce energy we will not have additional red and taxes. "The investment in solar energy production has gone from R$ 2 million.

The projection is that the amount be recovered in seven years. "It's interesting because the plant has a lifespan of more than 25 years.

References

Fonte: https://www.escolaenergiasolar.com/curso-energia-solar Escola Energia Solar