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With Solar Panels, Atacadão Saves on Electricity Bill and Confirms That the Sector Remains “Challenging” Due to Interest Rates and Debt.
Atacadão has decided to quickly expand the use of solar energy in its units in Brazil, as the sector faces pressure from high interest rates, record family debt, and a slowdown in consumption.
The initiative, announced by CEO Marco Oliveira, takes place in stores across various regions of the country and already shows a direct impact on operational costs, noting that the market is still “challenging” and has gained prominence within the Carrefour group.
According to the executive, the installations already meet between 40% and 50% of the energy demand of the units that received the equipment, reinforcing a strategy that has become essential to maintain competitiveness in an adverse economic environment.
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Solar Panels Are Already in 25 Stores and Are Expected to Expand to All New Units
So far, Atacadão has installed solar panels in 25 of the 385 stores spread across the country. According to Marco Oliveira, Carrefour’s guideline is clear: all new units must already be equipped with solar energy.
The cost has also fallen significantly. When the project started, the installation per store cost around R$ 7 million.
Today, the cost is between R$ 3 million and R$ 4 million, thanks to the decreasing prices of equipment and advances that have made the structures lighter.
“The cost of reinforcing the store’s structure is much lower,” said Oliveira. He further explained that the company conducts an auction to hire suppliers for each new installation.
Energy Is One of the Largest Expenses of the Network
The president of Atacadão emphasized that electricity is one of the main costs of the business, especially air conditioning.
In stores that do not have solar energy, the monthly bill ranges between R$ 100,000 and R$ 150,000, making the photovoltaic project essential for alleviating expenses.
Therefore, the guideline Atacadão saves on electricity bills with solar panels, sees the market still as “challenging” guiding investments even in a year of retraction.
The most recent installations occurred in three units in Pará, expedited by Belém’s preparation for COP30.
Plan Anticipates 25 New Installations of Solar Panels Per Year
Atacadão plans to install solar panels in 25 stores per year, increasing the network’s sustainability and reducing dependence on traditional energy.
Despite the pace, the expansion of new stores will be more cautious.
By 2026, the forecast is to open between 10 and 15 units. The potential for the next five years reaches 120 new stores, but this will directly depend on the economic conditions of the country.
“The reduction in the pace of openings that we will see in 2026 and 2027 is not linked to market potential but much more to the interest rate,” Oliveira highlighted.
“With 15% interest per year, it is difficult to make the investment feasible.” The average investment per unit is R$ 75 million.
Market Remains “Challenging” with Indebted Families and Decrease in Consumption
In addition to expansion challenges, the wholesale sector faces a scenario of weakened consumption. Oliveira states that the environment remains “quite challenging,” reflecting the high debt levels of families.
“Consumers are extremely indebted, with 75% of families in the country in debt and no forecast for improvement in the short term,” he stated.
He noted that prices have risen in recent years, while wages have not kept pace, leading to a decrease in consumption and an increase in “downgrade” when customers switch from traditional brands to cheaper options.
“The bets have taken a lot of money from consumption. The ease of consigned credit has also further increased indebtedness,” he said.
According to him, there is “a slight decrease in the volume” of sales, reinforcing that Atacadão saves on electricity bills with solar panels, sees the market still as “challenging,” and attempts to balance costs to weather the moment.
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