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Rural producers are investing more in the acquisition of equipment to generate their own energy in the distributed generation (DG) modality. Between October 2021 and May 2022, the own generation capacity in small plants of the rural consumption class increased by 50%.
Rural producers are investing more in the acquisition of equipment to generate their own energy in the distributed generation (DG) modality. Between October 2021 and May 2022, own generation capacity in small plants of the rural consumption class increased by 50%, according to a survey by the Brazilian Association of Distributed Generation (ABGD). Currently, these consumers accumulate 1.5 GW of capacity, of which approximately 1.45 GW are of solar origin, according to data from the National Electric Energy Agency (Aneel).
"Due to the fight for the reduction of production costs, we already anticipate the accelerated growth of distributed generation in the field", says Guilherme Chrispim, president of ABGD. In September 2021, when distributed generation reached 1 GW in the field, the entity estimated that this volume would double in twelve months.
“In addition to the high cost of energy, there is a window of opportunity for new projects installed in 2022, due to the free Distribution System Use Rate (TUSD), guaranteed in the new legal framework for distributed generation, also it influences the result”, evaluates Chrispim. According to Law 14,300/2022, enacted in January, those who adhere to the system until the end of the year will be guaranteed free use of this rate until 2045.
Renewable sources and hybrid power plants
As in other forms of consumption (residential, industrial and commercial), solar energy is the most present in distributed generation systems in the field, with 96.2%. The other sources present, all renewable, are thermoelectric (2.7%) and hydroelectric plants (1%).
“In addition to the expansion of solar energy, distributed generation has growth potential with other sources. In December, the National Electric Energy Agency (Aneel) published the resolution on hybrid plants”, adds Chrispim. For him, this set of factors will make the field responsible for the highest percentage of increase in DG systems. Comparatively, the growth of DG for commercial consumers, in the same period (October 2021 to May 2022), was 20%.
The availability of a water course in rural properties is one of the possibilities for power generation, through small hydroelectric plants. In crops where there are environmental liabilities, such as sugar cane vinasse, it is still possible to install plants that transform greenhouse gases into energy.
"The combination of these sources with photovoltaic systems will become more and more common, which will bring benefits to the environment," says Chrispim. According to ABGD calculations, the total of 1.5 GW in distributed generation prevents the emission of 610 thousand tons of carbon dioxide annually.
Opportunities and new business
The 500 MW of distributed generation added to the field represented approximately 2,000 million reais in investments, with the generation of some 13,500 jobs, according to calculations by IRENA (International Renewable Energy Agency).
This growth, with solar energy as the protagonist, is opening up new business opportunities. The last edition of the Agrishow business fair (from April 25 to 29) had the unprecedented presence of companies that sell photovoltaic panels. An example was the Melo Cordeiro Group, which attended the fair and announced a commercial agreement with Fockink, one of the leaders in the national market for irrigation systems, through the groups new company, CorSolar. |
