Photovoltaic solar energy is gaining more and more space in Brazil, standing out as a sustainable and renewable source that allows consumers to reduce their electricity bill by up to 90%.
This attractive potential has led many professionals working in energy-related segments to become solar integrators, seeking to participate and take advantage of the high profitability of this expanding market.
But do you know what you need to do to start working in this field?
This is a question that many professionals ask themselves in light of the increasingly promising scenario of solar energy in Brazil.
Therefore, we have prepared this content to help you understand what a solar integrator is, what training is required and what their daily duties are.
What is a solar integrator?
The solar integrator is the professional responsible for mediating the relationship between the photovoltaic equipment distributor and the end consumer, who wishes to install this technology in their property.
This professional purchases the equipment from the distributor and assumes responsibility for the entire process of installing a photovoltaic system.
Its responsibilities include bureaucratic activities, such as the sale of solar systems and the approval of the technology by the competent authorities.
He also takes care of the necessary documentation to ensure that the installation complies with regulatory standards.
In addition, the solar integrator carries out technical actions, which include the installation of equipment at the location indicated by the customer and the provision of after-sales services, ensuring the maintenance and proper functioning of the system over time.
By working directly in the sale of solar systems to the public, the integrator is also responsible for explaining in detail how the technology works and clarifying all of the customers' doubts, helping them to understand the benefits and peculiarities of photovoltaic solar energy.
Thus, it plays a crucial role in the dissemination and adoption of this renewable, sustainable and economically advantageous energy source.
What training does a photovoltaic integrator require?
To become a solar integrator, it is essential to have technical training in areas such as electrical engineering, electronics, electromechanics or electrical engineering.
These courses provide the necessary foundation in terms of technical knowledge and practical skills to deal with the electrical systems that make up photovoltaic installations.
In addition to this technical training, seeking specialization courses in solar energy is crucial. This is because photovoltaic technology has its own particularities, both theoretical and practical, that differ significantly from other fields of electrical engineering.
Specialization courses teach the details of installing, maintaining and optimizing solar systems, preparing professionals to deal with the specific challenges of the sector.
O Canal Solar offers a complete course platform, serving different profiles of professionals and investors.
Whether you are someone who already works in the market and is looking to improve, or a beginner looking to start your career in solar energy, there are training options suited to your needs.
In addition to courses, the Canal Solar promotes the dissemination of knowledge and innovation in the sector through different formats.
The company organizes congresses, webinars and maintains a Espaitec's own, the Solar Talk, which addresses relevant and up-to-date topics on solar energy. These initiatives are essential to keep professionals informed about the latest trends and developments in the solar market.
How much does a solar integrator earn?
Before answering the question above, it is important to be clear about the amount of investment required to open an integration company.
According to Sebrae (Brazilian Support Service for Micro and Small Businesses), the cost of opening an integrator can also vary, taking into account the location of the company and the number of inhabitants in the region where the services will be provided.
The entity clarifies that to open a solar energy company, the entrepreneur must invest, on average, an amount of R$200 thousand in a city with half a million inhabitants, for example, according to market data.
This cost includes expenses for opening the company, installation team, office, salespeople, materials, showroom, vehicle for transporting installers and equipment, hardware, software and, if applicable, franchise fee.
Costs for creating a website and marketing strategies, such as internet advertising, must also be considered in order to reach a greater number of people interested in installing photovoltaic systems in homes, businesses or industries.
As for the revenue of a solar integrator, Sebrae points out that this value varies according to the business model, marketing strategies, the size of the projects executed, the number of customers served and the sales volume.
According to Sebrae, by investing R$200, it is possible to obtain a return on investment in 24 months, with sales projections equivalent to R$2 million in the company's first year, according to market projections.
For professionals who work under the CLT regime as integrators, salaries may vary according to the role performed and the professional's experience.
Market studies indicate that starting salaries can range from approximately R$2.500,00 to R$4.000,00 per month for technicians and installers.
Professionals with greater experience and qualifications can achieve higher salaries, reaching ranges of R$6.000,00 to R$10.000,00 per month or more, especially in supervisory, technical or commercial management positions.
In addition to the base salary, benefits such as transportation vouchers, food vouchers, health insurance and profit sharing are also common in companies in the sector.
Total remuneration can also be influenced by the company's performance and the results achieved by the professional in their activities.
What are the benefits of working in the solar energy segment?
The solar integrator is one of the most important and sought-after links in the photovoltaic market. After all, as we have seen so far, he is responsible for ensuring that the population has access to the benefits of the source.
Therefore, becoming a successful solar integrator is a very intelligent and responsible way to obtain very high income at the end of each month, since the solar energy market has a very high demand and is still deficient in labor.
Recently, Brazil surpassed the mark of two million solar energy self-generation systems installed in residential properties, according to data from ANEEL (National Electric Energy Agency).
This number currently represents less than 4% of the total number of homes in the country today – around 60 million, according to the IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics) – which only highlights the large margin for growth that the Brazilian photovoltaic market has in the residential segment alone.
How to become a solar integrator?
Just like any other profession, investors interested in becoming integrators need to dedicate themselves to the profession and take some important precautions.
In addition to knowing how to manage their business, it is essential that the owner and other employees of the company seek to learn more about the subject in order to provide good service to customers.
Another important issue is to pay attention to the sector's laws and regulations, as working with solar energy requires compliance with current laws and rules.
In Brazil, the body responsible for regulating the aspects involving this branch is the ANEEL. Furthermore, it is important not to forget to register the company with CREA (Regional Council of Engineering and Agronomy) in your region.
In terms of customer capitalization, it is advisable to invest heavily in marketing. After all, there is no point in being an excellent integrator if the market does not see you.
Furthermore, another important factor is having a good technical team in the field to not only install the technology in the client's property, but also to serve them in a professional, punctual and polite manner, so that they recommend your services to more people in the future.
Another issue that every integrator needs to develop is negotiation skills, since the company will have direct contact with customers, suppliers and the customers themselves interested in purchasing its product.
In this sense, to create good commercial agreements, it is important that the integrator and his team know how to use their gift of the gab, their flexibility and the famous sales mental triggers very well.
After all, is it worth being a solar integrator?
Considering the possibility of high gains in a market that still has enormous growth potential ahead, there is no doubt that it is worth it.
Furthermore, the expansion of this segment has caused the price of technology to drop drastically, making solar systems an increasingly accessible and attractive solution for consumers.
For comparison purposes, in 2012, when there were only seven photovoltaic systems installed and in use in Brazil, the market — although still timid — was already capable of offering opportunities to its employees.
Now, almost a decade later, the numbers have not only expanded to more than 2 million active connections, as we saw earlier, but they also tend to continue on an upward trend for new decades.
A recently released study by the US Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), for example, projects that solar energy will continue to grow by more than 9% per year worldwide over the next few years.
The survey estimates that, in 2023, around 350 GW would have been installed globally, which represented a record never before achieved in a single year, with Brazil being one of the main markets.
Find one right now solar energy company near you and start saving sustainably.
Conclusion
As we have seen, the solar integrator plays an important role in providing the population with access to cheaper, cleaner and more efficient energy through the sale of photovoltaic kits.
Despite being laborious and requiring a great deal of technical knowledge, the work of a professional in the field – if done well – brings a series of professional and financial benefits to those who decide to pursue a career in the segment.
