Amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the solar sector has been suffering from the rise in the dollar, which has caused the value of the investment to increase substantially. In April, for example, the American currency closed with an increase of 4,69%. In the year, it accumulates an increase of 35,51%.
However, according to Bernado Marangon, director of Exata Energia, a reduction in financing interest and a reduction in the cost of equity, which naturally accompany the reduction in the Selic, can help reduce this impact.
For Marangon, abundant and low-cost money in banks is an opportunity for generation businesses, as it is seen by banks as a lower risk activity that has not been seriously affected by the crisis.
“It is important to highlight that the presentation of collateral for the loan is still a necessary issue for credit approval and is often the main obstacle for small investors”, highlights the director.
Marangon also said that, at this time of pandemic, many companies will need lines of credit to keep their business running. “Some measures were taken by the government with the aim of making the money reach the companies that need it. However, many have claimed difficulty in getting credit approved by banks. The guarantee for financing is fundamental, and some measure is necessary to solve this problem”, he concluded.
To try to overcome this situation, the economic team of Paulo Guedes, Minister of Economy, is finalizing a proposal to offer guarantees for credit operations to small and medium-sized companies. The Investment Guarantee Fund, managed by BNDES, should receive a contribution from the National Treasury of up to R$20 billion, which will be used as financing collateral.
Guedes' team needs to define whether the measure will propose a ceiling for the interest rate to be charged on financing. The change is emergency in nature and should be valid until September or December of this year.
Banks continue approving financing
Contrary to the crisis, some companies in the solar energy market have their financing approved, such as Mega Solar Energy, specialized in the resale and installation of solar plants, located in Guaxupé-MG.
“The financing that we had blocked at the bank, which did not come out, came out faster, contrary to what we believed. The smaller flow of people within the branches allowed managers to focus more on the accounts that were about to go out. Therefore, we experience a beneficial side to our projects. I had six processes at the bank that were filed during the pandemic, including processes of significant value”, said Geovani Magalhães, director of the company.
Magalhães also highlighted that the solar energy market will be the engine of the economy in Brazil, generating jobs and income, as people will have an escape valve for the costs. “We then achieved at least a guarantee in the midst of the crisis. I don’t know how far this will go, but we don’t stop believing in the sector.”
Professional training is essential
“The company must always be qualified, because if it depends on just one client, the risk is very high. So, we have to train ourselves and have a very good sales funnel to be able to overcome the new crises that will come”, commented Geovani Magalhães.
To have good commercial planning, the director of Mega Solar Energy commented that training is essential. “We took the course Market, Regulation and Business Models in Solar Energy – ACR and ACL, offered by Canal Solar. This helped us attract more customers to our company,” he concluded.
