EN 
PT_BR 
Low-income consumers in Brazil, who invested in photovoltaic systems, have suffered less during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to research by ABSOLAR (Brazilian Association of Photovoltaic Solar Energy).
For Bibiana Angel González, resident of the Babilônia community in Rio de Janeiro, the savings at the end of the month were 65% on the electricity bill. The resident, who has had a small photovoltaic system installed on the roof of her house for almost five years, feels relieved with the lower cost. “With solar energy on the roof of my house, I can save money, which I use to pay other important expenses I have on a daily basis”, he says.
Another advantage for Bibiana is the savings generated by the solar system for her inn and restaurant, attached to her residence, which are closed due to the new coronavirus pandemic. “Solar installation allows me to have competitive prices, as it is impossible for a business in the favela to remain afloat when public services cost the same in the community as they do on asphalt,” he says.
To install the photovoltaic system designed by the company Revolusolar, the entrepreneur used a line of credit. Thus, part of the amount saved each month on the electricity bill was used to pay the financing installments. She states that it was a great decision, as the loan was paid off in less than five years, well before the end of its useful life, which is more than 25 years. “Solar energy is a great investment, better than investing money in a bank, for example”, he highlights.
The president of the Board of Directors of ABSOLAR, Ronaldo Koloszuk, highlights the great cost-benefit of solar energy for all Brazilians. “A well-designed photovoltaic system can reduce consumer electricity costs by up to 95%. This relieves family budgets and allows resources to be allocated to other essential needs, such as food, health and education”, comments Koloszuk.
Investments in solar
According to ABSOLAR mapping, since 2012, accumulated private investments in photovoltaic systems on rooftops and small plots of land have already exceeded R$ 13.8 billion in Brazil. Brazilian homes represent more than 70% of these connections, which total more than 228 thousand photovoltaic systems distributed across more than 80% of Brazilian municipalities.
The CEO of ABSOLAR, Rodrigo Sauaia, clarifies that residential consumers play a prominent role in the adoption and use of solar energy, as they pay the highest prices in the country for the electricity they consume. “Photovoltaic technology has become an important ally at this critical moment in the Brazilian and global economy. It brings direct savings to Brazilians' pockets, relieves the budgets of companies and governments, protects them against recurring tariff increases and also helps the environment and sustainability”, highlights Sauaia.
