São Paulo - Generate energy at home from the sun, injecting in public and earn credits on the electricity bill is possible in Brazil since 2012, through Resolution 482 of Aneel.
Now, with the high followed in the electricity bill and electrical system giving signs of exhaustion, residential micro-generation solar PV should become a more attractive option.
Eyeing this market, SolarGrid - company set up last year by four former partners XP Investimentos and two environmental engineers - decided to invest in a new model in the industry to leverage the business, based on franchises.
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Launched just over a month, the program seeks to bring together installers electricians from around the country under one umbrella, which promises to give the franchisee more security and a more solid business vision in the long run.
Output, each gets a 'solartruck', a small trailer in the shape of a house with smart use of energy and photovoltaic panels that will facilitate the understanding of consumers on the generation system renewable energy in an intelligent home.
The entire process has a very educational bias. They will cycle through the regions of operation of the franchisees and there is also the intention of taking them to run on condominiums, schools and universities.
The company expects to close the year with 50 franchisees, and for 2016, the goal is to reach 200 nationwide. Currently, it operates in the states of Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Minas Gerais, Espirito Santo, Maranhão, Piauí and Santa Catarina.
For the customer, one of the main advantages is the convenience. The SolarGrid takes care of everything: design, installation, approval by the distribution and maintenance of photovoltaic panels.
Of course the price of having a solar mini mill at home is still an obstacle to the expansion of this market. "It's like putting a popular car on the roof, requires high initial investment," compares Henrique Loyola, one of the partners.
Who can afford the expense, however, see their electricity bill be reduced to the minimum amount charged by the concessionaire. And with this economy, the company ensures that you can afford the investment in the system for about 7 years and then enjoy energy independence.
All control to the consumer
But the distributed generation service solar energy through the installation of photovoltaic panels, is only part of the SolarGrid strategy.
Before the "tarifaço" in electricity bills, the company sees great potential in providing advice to a more rational light consumption.
Therefore, they offer tools for the client to pass to regulate your spending, such as power meter, exchange of led lamps and efficiency tips.
"This service reaches a wider audience and who is interested in consuming electricity more efficiently. You can reduce up to 30% of waste," said Loyola.
The businessman believes that the time is favorable not only to the expansion of more sustainable sources of generation, but also to the emergence of technology and services that empower consumers the choices and ways to consume energy.
But it recognizes that to leverage the sector is necessary to go beyond. The main, points Loyola is the need to create credit lines, either to companies providing the service, or to the final consumer.
Standardize and simplify the solar installations approval process with the distributors is another essential point.
The entrepreneur also commonly argued that the consumer-generator can "monetize" the potential for solar generation of his house, as occurs, for example in the US, where you can rent the roof to a neighboring generate their own power.
"What prevents the Brazilian market to explode and that Brazil will become a major player in renewable is regulation. Lack cut the moorings, customers want to invest, just missing untie the knots" he says.
