Called BIG-F10, the first photovoltaic tile sold in Brazil, it is one of Eternit's main bets on technology

Eternit – a company specializing in the supply of raw materials, products and solutions for the civil construction sector, and market leader in the roofing segment – ​​started selling its BIG-F10 concrete photovoltaic tiles this month. The Tégula Solar product, one of the company's main bets on technology, is unprecedented in the Brazilian market and allows the transformation of sunlight into electricity. Check it out: AXS Energia will invest BRL 1 billion in 60 solar photovoltaic power plants in Minas Gerais

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The sale of the company's photovoltaic tiles

At this first moment, Eternit's photovoltaic tiles were sold to selected customers in the State of São Paulo and close to the manufacturing unit, in Atibaia. The selection was made by the company's technical and commercial team based on the initial production capacity and the formation of a portfolio of reference projects for different climatic conditions, construction standards and application possibilities.

The new product is part of the company's restructuring process and is in line with the strategy of building a sustainable and innovative product portfolio. “We want to democratize access to electricity originating from renewable sources in Brazil, through a revolutionary technology that can generate returns on investment in a period of 3 to 5 years”, highlights the president of the Eternit Group, Luís Augusto Barbosa.

Eternit project details

Approved and registered by Inmetro since 2019, the Tégula Solar tile measures 36,5 cm by 47,5 cm and is made of concrete, with the incorporation of photovoltaic cells on its surface. It has a power of 9,16 watts, which represents an average monthly production capacity of 1,15 kWh, with an estimated useful life of 20 years. “It is an easy-to-install product that does not interfere with the architecture of buildings, with a weight and structure similar to that of conventional tiles, but which adds value to the roof, in addition to offering protection, thermal and acoustic comfort”, adds Luiz Antonio Lopes.

To achieve the expected result, the product underwent a series of rigorous performance and durability tests, in Brazil and abroad, over almost three years. In 2019, tests were started in internal installations. In early 2020, installations were carried out at the photovoltaic systems laboratory at the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), in Florianópolis, and at the Institute of Engineering and Environment at the University of São Paulo (IEE/USP). Then came the implementation of pilot projects in different locations and climatic conditions in the country.

Also read this news: Eternit plans to build two new fiber cement tile factories in the North and Northeast of the country

Eternit will present a proposal to its board of directors for the construction of two fiber cement tile factories. The proposal will be made by October and the units will be built in the North or Northeast of the country, with a capacity to produce 14 thousand tons. One of the factories will be able to expand its installed capacity by 20% and will start operating in the first quarter of 2023. Soon after, Eternit will also seek approval for the other unit, also in the North or Northeast, but with production scheduled to start in 2024.

Together, the two new factories and Confibra, acquired this year, will enable a 50% increase in the company's capacity. According to the president of Eternit, Luís Augusto Barbosa, there is a repressed demand in the north and northeast due to lack of supply. In the Southeast and South, the growth will come from purchases of fiber cement tiles.

The company expects to complete the purchase of Confibra in the coming weeks. In addition to the construction of new fiber cement tile factories in the North and Northeast, the company is also expanding the factory in Rio de Janeiro and Goiânia, with conclusion expected for the fourth quarter of this year and the first quarter of next year, respectively.