Pioneering Project Captures Solar Energy at Bus Station in Belo Horizonte

Flexible Photovoltaic Modules From L8 Energy Were Installed at the Tube Station of UFMG and They Already Brought Savings Early in the Installation Weeks

The city of Belo Horizonte is a pioneer in the capture of clean energy. Through a public-private partnership with L8 Energy, a pioneer in distributing solar tiles in Brazil, a bus station in the city is now capable of capturing solar energy and generating enough to cover all operations on-site. To give an idea, in one week of operation, a total of 177 kWh was produced, enough energy for 163 showers or to power 9 refrigerators. The expectation is that the UFMG station will serve as a pilot, so that later there is an adoption in other points in the city.

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“The City Hall of Belo Horizonte has been investing significantly to make the city increasingly sustainable. The goal of this public invitation is to test the best system to adapt the stations, which have some limitations due to architectural restrictions and also vandalism,” says Odirley Santos, administration manager at BHTrans.

Solar Energy Capture at the UFMG Station is Done Through 56 Thin-Film Modules

The capture of solar energy at the UFMG station is done through 56 thin-film modules. The product is lightweight (1.98 Kg each 125W module), flexible, and easy to install. Due to its flexibility, it allows for numerous applications that are not possible with conventional modules. One example is structures that have some type of curvature.

From the moment one wants to preserve the shape of a building, the flexible thin film becomes a more interesting option. This type of application is commonly referred to as BIPV (Building Integrated Photovoltaics), where photovoltaic panels are integrated with the construction, making it more sustainable while respecting the shape and function of the building.

“This is a pilot project for the city of Belo Horizonte and I believe it will serve as an example for the entire country. BHTrans will bring many benefits with this installation, both environmentally, generating completely renewable energy, and financially, saving on the station’s electricity bill,” comments L8 engineer Weliton Maia.

Solar Energy Projects Like This Are Common in Europe and China

Maia also notes that projects like this are common in Europe and China, and the use of this technology in Brazil should become increasingly common and accessible. “Technically it was a very interesting project. We did not use conventional modules. The thin-film module is attached to any surface through adhesive, which expands the possibilities for installing the modules,” said Roberto da Costa, engineer at Solares Energia Fotovoltaica, the integrative company that carried out the project coordinated by L8.

About L8 Energy

L8 EnergyL8 Energy is a company of the L8 Group that operates in the Industrialization and Distribution of Photovoltaic Systems throughout Brazil. Headquartered in Curitiba – PR, it is a reference in innovative solutions for energy generation such as the L8 Solar Tile.