EN 
PT_BR 
In the month of October, the Solar Coca-Cola, bottler of the Coca-Cola system in Brazil, and its authorized distributors began operating their first two solar plants at distributors in the cities of Barra do Corda (MA) and Palmares (PE).
More than 700 solar panels of 370 W and 450 W were implemented in the projects. In total, the plants together have an installed power of approximately 361 kWp.
According to the companies, the energy generated by the plants will be used to supply seven of the company's distribution units located in the cities Barra do Corda (MA), Barreiras (BA), Cascavel (CE), Iguatu (CE), Maracanaú (CE), Palmares ( PE) and Tutóia (MA).
“Over the last few years, Solar Coca-Cola has invested in initiatives that enable an increasingly diverse and sustainable energy matrix for the company as a whole”, highlights Orlando Fiorenzano, director of integrated planning and supplies at Solar Coca-Cola .
“The action taken with distributors is another important step that we are taking towards implementing this planning that is extending to our entire production and distribution chain”, explains Fiorenzano.
According to Luciano Gomes, commercial director at Solar Coca-Cola, the idea arose to support distributors in acquiring infrastructure for the use of renewable and sustainable sources in their operations.
“To this end, we organized a kind of buying club, in which we bridged the gap between authorized distributors and the supplier company to acquire a service package with a more competitive market value”, says Gomes.
The company is also building five more photovoltaic plants in the states of Bahia, Ceará and Maranhão. The installations are scheduled to be completed in the first quarter of 2022.
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According to Solar Coca-Cola, the forecast is that, together, the seven solar plants will generate annual savings in energy costs of approximately R$ 250 thousand for the brand's authorized distributors.
In addition, the company is also building two more solar plants in the states of Bahia and Mato Grosso, which will supply ten Solar Coca-Cola distribution units. In total, the two plants will have an installed capacity of 450 kWp.
Sustainable projects Solar Coca-Cola
In addition to the projects carried out in partnership with distributors, the company also developed other sustainable actions in its corporate and manufacturing units. In 2021, the company reached the mark of 50% of its consumption originating from renewable sources.
Furthermore, the energy consumed by the company's factories comes from the wind farm designed in partnership with the Brennand Energia group, in Sento Sé, in the interior of Bahia. Solar Coca-Cola's goal is to reach 100% of units supplied through renewable sources by 2025.
