BNDES Approves Operation That Will Allow Energy Consumers in the Amazon to Replace Their Diesel Generators with Solar Plants

BNDES Approves Initiative That Could Facilitate Replacement of Diesel Generators with Solar Plants in the Amazon Through Solfácil Financing

BNDES seems to redeem itself by approving the operation that will make it possible for energy consumers in the Amazon to swap their diesel generators for solar plants. BNDES acquired 95% of the R$ 60 million in debentures issued by Amazônia Solar Companhia Securitizadora de Créditos Financeiros.

BNDES Will Close Partnership for Financing 1,600 Mini Solar Plants in the Amazon

The issuance will make the partnership with the Solfácil ecosystem more viable. Solfácil specializes in financing the installation of microgeneration solar plants. The operation will enable the financing of 1,600 projects that will replace diesel generators within a term of up to 150 months for the installation of mini solar plants in businesses and homes located in the Amazon region.

Therefore, there are great chances that Solfácil will be mainly responsible for assessing the capacity of the contractor and the contracted party, as well as checking the feasibility of the system for the consumer before approving the credit.

Each of the solar plants, at the end, should present an average value of around R$ 37 thousand and will be fully financed. In total, there will be approximately 12 MWp of installed capacity, which is equivalent to the energy consumption of about 7 thousand families in the Amazon.

This is the first time BNDES will operate in this format. It will be a pilot operation to encourage the use of energy from distributed generation rather than from diesel generators in the North Region, where there are still problems with energy supply, and about 250 isolated systems that use thermal diesel generation for electricity supply.

Initiative Will Contribute to Democratization of Access to Solar Plant Generation

According to Solange Vieira, Credit Granting Director of the financial institution, the operation is innovative in its approach, allowing final consumers in the Amazon to access BNDES resources without the traditional intermediation of banks.

Solange states that the operation will contribute to democratizing access to energy generation through solar plants for consumers in the region, allowing greater access to credit at the end and generating bank decentralization.

Another advantage for consumers is the reduction in electricity bills, which, when compared to the use of diesel generators, can reach up to 90%. The compensation will be sufficient to pay the financing. After the loan is settled, consumers will own their own solar plants, which can last up to 25 years.

Vila Limeira 100% Solar Project

For the 80 residents of Vila Limeira, drinking cold water, using appliances, and accessing the internet became possible only less than a year ago, with the use of solar energy.

Even though it was founded in 1950, the riverside community had been enjoying only about three hours of electricity daily until recently, but it was supplied through diesel generators, which consumed 300 liters of fuel, costing up to R$ 2 thousand monthly.

In June of last year, the Vila Limeira 100% solar project connected 35 units, including houses, churches, and schools, to a small solar generation plant, making the community the first in southern Amazonas to have renewable energy every day.