Exclusive data shows that solar energy in agribusiness has been a resounding trend

Number more than doubled between 2020 and 2021, reaching more than 61 thousand installed systems. They generate solar energy for various purposes such as running cooling equipment in irrigation, drying crops, nurseries or animal waterers to energy at points far from the electrical grid.

São Paulo, November 2022 – One of the most important sectors of the national economy, agribusiness was responsible for 27,4% of the Brazilian GDP in 2021, according to data from the Center for Advanced Studies in Applied Economics (Cepea), in partnership with the Confederation of Agriculture and Livestock of Brazil ( CNA). In order to maintain the pace of growth, relevant factors are considered, such as the search for processes and technologies that guarantee progress in production, and that also offer cost reduction and promote sustainability.

As a result, investment in alternative energy sources and the use of photovoltaic solar energy have grown in the segment, especially due to the financial impact: using solar energy in agribusiness generates chain benefits, with savings in production and lower prices for the final costumer.

The importance of solar energy

According to the Brazilian Association of Photovoltaic Solar Energy (Absolar), many Brazilians have already paid attention to the importance of solar energy in the sector. In 2020, for example, agriculture was the third sector that most used photovoltaic solar energy in Brazil, with more than 29 thousand systems installed in the field. Last year, the number jumped to 61.

"The use of solar energy is more common in homes and businesses, but it appears in a variety of ways in agribusiness: use of equipment for refrigeration, irrigation, drying of crops, nurseries in greenhouses or animal drinking fountains. Another very important option is when it takes energy to points on the property that are far from the electrical grid.”, explains NeoSolar consultant Alex Zuboski.

According to Zuboski, equipment such as charge controllers, inverters and batteries are expensive to implement, but in the long run, the cost-effectiveness is worth it compared to traditional energy supply systems.

"In addition to the efficiency of the systems, savings in electricity bills is the main advantage offered to rural producers, who also have a lower maintenance requirement compared to other energy sources.”, He adds.

Modalities of systems and components

In the agro, On Grid systems can be used, which work connected to the electrical network, and Off Grid, characterized by not requiring connection to the electrical network and directly supplying devices that use energy.

Another option widely used by the agribusiness sector is solar pumps. Unlike conventional ones, connected to the electrical network, these components do not need access to the network and are capable of providing significant savings and excellent cost-effectiveness, being powered by a photovoltaic panel, which maintains the water pump with direct current electrical energy.

“Today, solar pumps have been used throughout the country, in greater numbers in the Southeast and Midwest regions. Brazil, due to the extension and quantity of productive areas and without access to the electrical grid, has a large market for the dissemination of the use of solar pumps”, concludes Alex Zuboski, specialist in solar pumps at NeoSolar.

Source: Neosolar