Mercado Livre is also a business opportunity for integrators

The opening of the Mercado Livre de Energia could enable an expansion of more than 7 GW average in the national electricity sector from January 2024 – the date on which, by current regulation, all consumers above 2.3 kV will be able to purchase energy from a supplier at negotiated prices, according to data from the CCEE (Electric Energy Trading Chamber). 

However, with the arrival of this market, many integrators who work with the sale of photovoltaic kits in the distributed micro and minigeneration believe that they will lose space in the solar energy sector with the expansion of the ACL (Free Contracting Environment).

This thought was the main subject debated by professionals in the photovoltaic sector who participated in the discussion panel on the Free Energy Market, on the second day of lectures at the Canal Conecta 2023. 

For them, the statement is not correct, since hiintegrator can perform partnerships with retail energy traders to further expand your business. In other words, the opening of this market is considered by them to be optimal for all segments linked to renewable sources. 

“We see this market opening with good eyes, precisely so that the consumer can have more competitive energy and an environment so that the generator can carry out its business more competitively”, said Gustavo Scrignoli, specialist in regulation and marketing rules at CCEE. 

The executive explained that the entire photovoltaic market It has already been structured through retail agents, which are nothing more than a type of broker for small consumers and generators who wish to migrate to the Free Energy Market through the CCEE. 

“The Retailer will be the great Hub between consumers and generators. In the case of solar energy, the solar generator itself can be represented by retailers at CCEE. This is a great advantage, because no one needs to know about the CCEE's daily bureaucracy, as the retailer will do this on behalf of the generator and the consumer”, commented Scrignoli.

Josiane Palomino, marketing director at Grupo Comerc Energia, agreed with what the CCEE executive said. For her, the opening of the Free Energy Market opens space and opportunity for everyone, mainly when there is better defined regulation on the subject. 

“The Free Energy Market in Brazil still needs regulatory adjustments to become scalable. Today, we have a market opening that is still very much based on procedures and rules designed for the wholesale market, but we have no doubts about its benefits”, she pointed out. 

Pedro Dante, partner at Lefosse Advogados, pointed out that he is also excited about the opening of the Free Energy Market, but pointed out that for this market to work, retailers need to create a solid financial base to buy energy and not leave consumers exposed. “The next step in consolidating the market is for us to be able to have this business coherence without major shutdowns”, he highlighted. 

Bernardo Marangon, director of Exata Energia, who mediated the discussion panel, highlighted: “It is important to dispel the idea that solar energy exists only in GG (distributed generation). There is also an opportunity for it in Mercado Livre. It is up to professionals in the solar sector to establish partnerships with serious and financially robust retail companies. These companies must give the integrator all the support they need to operate in this new market”, he commented.