Gas stations adhere to the use of solar energy

Seeking sustainability and savings, more and more gas stations are investing in solar energy generation to supply their units in Brazil. The network Ipiranga, for example, created Usinas Ipiranga for accredited company posts. The project aims to contribute to the company's energy transition process, investing in renewable sources and sustainability with operational efficiency.

The company estimates that the project will save up to 15% on the energy bill, considering the green tariff flag, without the need to install a photovoltaic system. According to the company, the expectation is to achieve accumulated savings of R$28 million in the participating network.

“This project is part of a strategic and multidisciplinary plan focused on energy solutions, which cover generation, energy efficiency, management and mobility. Five plant complexes are already in the implementation phase: Rio Grande do Sul, São Paulo, Paraná, Rio de Janeiro and Santa Catarina”, explains Ipiranga in a note.

Also according to the company, the plants will have an annual generation capacity of 23 GWh and will serve 270 stations located in the same areas of the energy distributors where the plants are being built, following GD (distributed generation) regulations.

Shell Stations

The power generation company Raízen, licensee of the brand Shell, offers dealers the option of solar energy at the network's gas stations. Currently, there are around 250 Shell gas stations that use solar energy in the states of São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso, Ceará and Pernambuco. According to Rafael Rebello, energy marketing and sales director at Raízen, monthly savings of up to 20% can be achieved at Shell gas stations in the state of Minas Gerais. In other states with gas stations that use solar energy, the monthly reduction is around 10%.

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“For Shell, in addition to the benefits of using cleaner and more renewable energy, there is a reduction in electricity costs. Our objective is that Raízen’s integrated ecosystem is also capable of bringing sustainability to our partners, resellers and end customers”, highlights Rebello.

Furthermore, the director highlighted that sustainability is incorporated into the company's decisions and operations. “We invest in transforming energy sources, seeking solutions that contribute to the global energy transition agenda in a gradual and sustainable way.”

BR Stations

BR gas stations, for example, use solar energy generated by distributor Vibra Energia. According to the company, monthly savings on energy bills can be as high as 25%. “In distributed generation, we offer the opportunity to combine savings with sustainability, since all the energy compensated in this model is clean, renewable and sustainable energy,” Vibra said in a statement.

In addition, the company reported that the service will be available to customers located in the states of São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Paraná and Rio de Janeiro, by the end of 2021. “Our goal is to reach all regions of Brazil by the end of 2023, allowing all our customers to have access to this opportunity to save sustainably”, it added.