EN 
PT_BR 
The search for economical and sustainable energy solutions through renewable sources, aiming to diversify the Brazilian energy matrix, has created business opportunities for various sectors of the country's economy, attracting more and more investments in solar energy.
Among the companies that have invested in the Brazilian photovoltaic market is Solar Group, which offers photovoltaic panel fixing structures for roofs and slabs. “We have been working on aluminum and stainless steel products for over 20 years. So, we had the DNA for projects and conditions to create a better structure here in Brazil than those imported”, says Ronaldo Koloszuk, the company's commercial director.
“The motivation was the enormous potential that this market has in Brazil. We researched more than a year before making the decision, making the investments and creating Solar Group. What we did was ask the installers what the best solutions were and the problems they caused on Brazilian roofs. They gave us a list and we solved the problems. Thus, we were able to be the first company to present a customized structure adapted to the reality of our roofs”, reports the executive.
Recently, the company reached 1 GW sold in structures for distributed generation on roofs and slabs throughout Brazilian territory. Furthermore, it opened its second manufacturing unit, located in the city of Santana do Parnaíba (SP), with investments of around R$ 19 million.
The Fortlev Group, specialized in water storage solutions and with a large share in the PVC pipes and connections market, is also investing in the solar market. Currently, the business unit is located in Vitória (ES), and distributes photovoltaic products and systems throughout the country.
Fortlev Group bets on the solar sector by opening a new solar unit in Vitória (ES)
According to Leonardo Diniz, the group's national manager, the motivation was the company's great enthusiasm for the photovoltaic source. “The founder of the Fortlev Group, Antônio Torres, has always been an enthusiast of solar energy. In 2008, he thought about entering this market, going to China and visiting several potential suppliers of equipment for this purpose. However, at that time the Fortlev Group demanded a lot of its attention and energy to focus on the development of the pipes and fittings segment. As a result, the dream of being able to contribute to the sustainable growth of the solar photovoltaic energy market was postponed. Until in 2019, Antônio decided to put his old desire into practice, thus creating Fortlev Solar”, comments Diniz.
Another group that is investing in the solar market, expected to begin activities at the end of the next quarter, is the Rio Branco group, one of the largest paper distributors in Brazil. “We believe that this new business unit will make the Rio Branco group, throughout this decade, one of the pioneers in sustainable energy in Brazil. We estimate to sell between 35 and 50 MW next year”, says William Gama, New Business manager.
The interest in increasingly economical and sustainable technology and solutions was what motivated another company to enter the photovoltaic market in Brazil, Wattohms, specialized in telecommunications. “Wattohms has always looked for new technologies and one of the factors that made me enter the sector was the knowledge of the super battery, which Tesla had made, so as not to be left in the hands of the dealership in the future. To have the option of migrating to the hybrid system or even an off grid system”, says Eduardo Antônio Lemos, owner of the company.
To increase the quality of your services, the company has invested in the professional qualification of its employees through internal training.
Challenges of the solar energy sector in Brazil
Like every market, the Brazilian photovoltaic sector has challenges that must be overcome by companies that wish to invest in the segment.
For Diniz, the Fortlev Group's main challenge has been keeping up with the continuous changes in the sector. “As with any business in Brazil, we started by seeking to understand more every day about the distributed generation market in the country. This market is highly dynamic, full of uncertainties and risks. In all humility, we made mistakes a few times, but this gave us the strength and learning to get things right in many ways.”
Lemos, partner-owner of Wattohms, points to legal uncertainty and low knowledge of solar technology as the sector's main challenges. “The big challenge is having to deal with people who are not used to the technology and proving that the system works. Furthermore, there is still no legal certainty due to regulations”, says the executive.
Aiming to end legal uncertainty in the solar sector, federal deputy Lafayette de Andrada (Republicanos/MG) presented a text using the virtual technique of the CBEE (Brazilian Electric Energy Code) that aims to create the legal framework for the Electricity Sector and distributed generation. The measure comes amid the discussion surrounding the update of REN (Normative Resolution) 482 proposed by ANEEL (National Electric Energy Agency).
“The text is guided by four basic principles that the sector needs to have in order for there to be security. The first is clarity. The second is legal security, because there is no investment that can be supported if the investor does not have legal security. Furthermore, it is necessary to have efficiency and sustainability in the sector, so that it is cheap and competitive. And, finally, equity, as the country is huge and we have several regional characteristics that need to be considered. A law cannot be made that is a rule for everyone because each person will receive this rule with different impacts, given their regional characteristics”, highlighted the deputy.
Positive and sustainable results
The financial return and the possibility of expanding their activities are the main advantages highlighted by companies operating in the photovoltaic market in Brazil. Furthermore, there is sustainable gain for the entire society.
According to Leonardo Diniz, Fortlev Solar's success has contributed to the company's missionary and social objectives. “From the net results of our business, 15% are destined for the Água Viva Institute, which generates employment, income and education for families throughout the semi-arid northeast, being responsible for caring for thousands of people who for some time were on the margins of poverty. This is our commitment and our greatest success.”
