“The dealerships didn’t accept it. They didn’t know about photovoltaic technology, I had to explain what solar energy was.” That's what I said Ricardo Rizzotto, executive director of EOS Solar, referring to a 4 kW power plant installed eight years ago in Rio Grande do Sul.
The photovoltaic system, which belongs to the Metalworkers Union of Passo Fundo, Marau and Tapejara, located in Marau (RS), has an inverter Fronius IG Plus 50V 4 kW.
According to Rizzotto, at the time, in 2015, the integrators faced several challenges in getting projects approved. “It was a month to get a return. There was always a problem, then they fixed it and the next month they found another problem.”
“After seven months of this mess, I filed a complaint with the ANEEL (National Electric Energy Agency) and, in two days, they approved the project”, reported Rizotto.
“This was our first sale, made in 2014. The building was under construction, the roof was missing. Therefore, we are waiting for the roof to be completed before installing the project,” she commented.
Union achieved savings of R$33 thousand
According to the executive, since the plant began operations in February 2015, until this year, the Metalworkers Union achieved total savings of R$33.
“With the amount saved, the resources are being used to improve infrastructure. The union is based in the countryside, and the value is deducted from three consumer units”, he highlighted.
In total, 16 255 W solar panels from Canadian Solar and an ABB string box were used. The system has already generated 45 MWh and the equipment was purchased from SICES Solar.
Union plant is one of the oldest in RS
According to the executive director of EOS Solar, the union's system was one of the oldest installed in Rio Grande do Sul. At that time, solar was beginning to gain space on the roofs of Brazilian consumers.
Outside Brazil, however, it was already possible to find plants in operation for 30 years, as is the case with the system run by German engineer Franz Ammersdorfer, owner of one of Fronius' first inverters, the Sunrise model.
Initially, the plant, installed in 1994, had a 1 kW Sunrise inverter and 2 kWp modules. Since then, Ammersdorfer has expanded its project and optimized self-consumption, using a water heating system, as well as a charging point for its electric car.
Check out more information about the project clicking here.
