The Brazilian Army has been investing increasingly in the installation of solar panels in units of the corporation located in remote areas of the country that do not have 100% access to the electricity grid. Last week, the Regional Maintenance Park of the 12th Military Region, in Manaus (AM), was the scene of a training that qualified 12 military personnel to install photovoltaic modules.
The action aimed to specialize members of the military organizations of the CMA (Amazon Military Command) in the assembly and maintenance of equipment that will be installed in the PEF (Special Border Platoons) of the Jungle Infantry Brigades.
This measure will provide greater comfort to military personnel, who do not have access to electricity and depend on micro plants and generators to meet their needs. In total, the photovoltaic system has six solar panels, four batteries and a 2 KW inverter.
In the future, military personnel living in the PEF will also be trained on solar panel maintenance. According to the Army, new systems will soon be installed in other locations, such as the 2nd PEF in Querari (AM); the 6th PEF in Pari Cachoeira (AM); and the 4th PEF in Surucucu (RO).
Other actions
In February this year, the Army also opened a photovoltaic energy plant at the 5th PEF (Special Border Platoon), in the municipality of Auaris (RR). The plant brought more stability to the corporation, which previously depended on air transport of diesel oil to supply its generators.
The project was developed by the 6th BEC (Construction Engineering Battalion), with coupling to alternating current, through a modularized energy storage system, with 198 kW of installed power and a storage capacity of 248,4 kWh. The inauguration was held on February 2 during a ceremony.
Last year, other solar units were also installed in military areas. The 1st Engineering Group, for example, installed a photovoltaic energy system on its premises to provide continuous power and reduce electricity costs.
In total, 777 solar panels were installed, which currently provide an estimated 54% reduction in the group's monthly energy consumption and 33% in its electricity bill. According to the Army, this represents, on average, savings of R$180 per year, with a payback – expected return on investment – of up to five years.
Sustainable program
In May 2019, the Brazilian Army took an important step towards valuing renewable energy within the corporation, with the launch of the “EB Sustentável” program – an initiative created to meet the entity’s sustainable demand, especially in construction projects in military areas. During the presentation of the project, which took place at the Army Headquarters in Brasília (DF), General Claudio Coscia Moura highlighted the importance of the initiative. “This launch represents a milestone for our institution, as it structures actions aimed at sustainable development in military constructions,” he said.
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