STI Norland operates in the manufacture and supply of so-called trackers, which are trackers used in photovoltaic solar power generation plants

Despite the coronavirus pandemic, the Spanish group STI Norland, which ended 2019 with a 39% share of the Brazilian market, is optimistic about its business this year in Brazil. Industry confidence in Brazil rises after loosening of quarantine measures

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STI Norland manufactures and supplies trackers, which are trackers used in photovoltaic solar power generation plants to change the position of panels during the day, following the path of the sun.

With a record R$700 million in new orders in the first quarter, the company is optimistic and expects to end the year with revenues of R$1 billion.

“To our surprise, all our customers continued to invest in the solar sector, even with the depreciation of the real”, says Javier Reclusa, CEO of STI Norland.

The executive adds “I think that from July, the solar market will be reactivated more than we have been expecting. And this will be due to the improvement of the exchange rate and the resumption of trade. For August and September, we imagine that everything will return to relative normality”.

According to data from Wood Mackenzie, STI Norland ended 2029 with a 39% share of the Brazilian market, making it the largest tracker company in Brazil. For the executive, the results became possible, above all, when acquiring the trust of the clients.

To the company's surprise, all of its customers continued to invest in the solar energy sector, despite the economic crisis caused by the pandemic, which depreciated the real against the dollar and the euro.

“All customers continued to place orders and we had a record number of orders in the first quarter, with more than R$700 million, both in distributed and centralized generation. Some projects were postponed, but they are pre-activating again now in the second half”, said Javier

The expectation is that from July, the solar energy market will be reactivated beyond expectations. And this will be due to the improvement of the exchange rate and the resumption of trade. In August and September, everything should return to relative normality.

Currently in Brazil, STI Norland has 60 employees in its central office in São Paulo, where all the administrative, commercial and financial aspects are located.

The company's factory is located in Camaçari (BA), where part of the manufacturing of components takes place. The company has a logistics distribution center for Brazil and abroad.

The location of the factory is a strategic point due to the port, since the company imports part of the material, in addition to being the epicenter of most solar projects in Brazil.

With the projects going at full steam, STI Norland expects to close 2020 with a turnover of BRL 1 billion here in Brazil and multiply by four the revenue of last year. For the next year, the expectation is to grow even more with the projects that are coming and those that are under negotiation.

Currently the companhia is involved in around 40 projects. In terms of major projects, the company works on the Pereira Barreto project, from the company EDP; in addition to a 465 MW project by the Pátria group; in addition to these, the company is carrying out all of Canadian Solar's projects here in Brazil.

-by petronews