Lojas Americanas intends to inaugurate two solar power plants to increase the share of energy coming from renewable sources

Lojas Americanas announced last Friday (12) that it will inaugurate two solar power plants by June, to increase the share of energy consumed by the group that comes from renewable sources, currently at 30%.

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Americanas already has four plants

Americanas already has four of its own plants, three of which are hydroelectric and one for biogas, a structure with which it fully supplies energy to around 150 units. Production takes place at four plants in Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais.

In addition, since 2016 the company operates in the free energy market as a special customer, also purchasing electricity from renewable sources to serve around 130 large stores, distribution centers and offices.

“The significant savings in expenses, combined with energy efficiency, reinforces the idea that this connection is possible and profitable,” said Americanas' director of investor relations and sustainability, Carlos Padilha.

Growth of the solar energy market in Brazil

In recent years, it has not been difficult to find on top of homes, commercial establishments and industries in the State more and more plates facing the sky, aimed at capturing solar energy.

From small solar energy panels to long rows spreading across the ceilings, this energy alternative has recently grown: between 2019 and 2020, the capacity to generate clean and renewable electricity through the sun jumped from 4,6 gigawatts (GW) to 7,5 GW in the country. A growth of 63%, even in the midst of a challenging year, marked by the pandemic.

The forecast is that the trend will continue, and that number will reach 12,6 GW this year. The calculation of generation capacity includes large power plants (centralized generation) and small and medium-sized systems installed on roofs, facades and land (distributed generation). This data represents more than half of the installed power at the Itaipu hydroelectric plant, the largest in Brazil and the second largest on the planet.