Solar energy is clean and, with photovoltaic systems, also enables
saving in the energy bill. Due to this, aiming to contribute to
philanthropic health and educational institutions in its concession
area, three Neoenergia distributors - Coelba (BA), Celpe (PE) and
Elektro (SP e MS) – delivered in 2020 generation equipment that sum up a
350.42 kWp installed capacity. The total investment in the year
amounted to almost R$ 1.5 million, in funds from the Energy Efficiency
Programs (PEE) of the distributors, regulated by the National Electric
Energy Agency (Aneel). The actions will continue in 2021 and, in
February, Elektro completed the implementation of a system that received
around R$ 1.4 million investment, benefiting Santa Casa Dona Carolina
Malheiros, in São João da Boa Vista (SP), a philanthropic unit that is
treating Covid-19 patients.
The system delivered to the
institution in São Paulo state was approved to installation under a
public call of the distributor for energy efficiency projects. With
estimated generation of 466 MWh/year, it shall supply the equivalent to
approximately, 30% of the institution’s annual consumption. In Salvador,
Coelba started in March the installation of four new systems, also
under PEE. One is at Abrigo São Gabriel, an institution for care with
the elderly, where the total power will be 20 kWp and annual generation
is estimated at almost 30 MWh, which represents about 75% of the energy
consumed by the organization. Also in Bahia, the schools Angelina Rocha,
with an installed capacity of 29.97 kWp; Antônio Pithon, with an
installed capacity of 20.25 kWp; and Mario Altenfelder (29.97 kWp) will
also benefit from solar panels. The total investment of the
concessionaire’s three projects in Bahia amounts to R$ 322,128.70 and
savings are expected to reach over R$ 38.5 per year.
“Our purpose
with the installation of solar panels is to support these institutions,
which carry out important social work in our concession areas. In
addition to providing this social benefit, the promotion of clean energy
generation is in line with our global commitment with de-carbonization,
since this is a sustainable source”, says Ana Christina Mascarenhas,
Neoenergia’s Energy Efficiency Manager.
2020
The largest
investment in 2020 in a single system was R$ 761,260.25, the amount
allocated by Coelba for the installation of solar panels at the Santo
Antonio Educational Center, which is part of Obras Sociais Irmã Dulce,
in the Metropolitan Region of Salvador. A total of 537 photovoltaic
modules of 360 Wp each were used, which were distributed in nine
inverters, for a total power of 193.32 kWp. Generation provided by the
system is expected to meet two-thirds of the institution's consumption
with clean energy.
Founded in 1964 by Sister Dulce, initially to
shelter socially vulnerable children and teenagers, it has been
operating since 1994 as a full-time school and today assists more than
780 students.
In Pernambuco, Celpe benefited Fundação Terra, an
organization that assists vulnerable people in the areas of education
and health. The system donated to the institution has an installed
capacity of 44 kWp and annual generation is estimated at 56 MWh, which
is equivalent to 47% of the foundation's annual consumption. The
investment in the installation of the panels was R$ 219,003.92, using
funds from the distributor's Energy Efficiency Program.
Elektro
allocated R$ 728.050.00 to the installation of a power plant in Santa
Casa de Limeira, with 113.1 kWp power. Generation estimated for the year
is 145 MWh/ano, equivalent to savings of around R$ 5,000.00/month in
the institution’s energy bill, which is treating patients with Covid-19
in the city.
Covid-19
Through its Energy Efficiency
programs, Neoenergia distributors are delivering over 700 scientific
refrigerators for vaccine storage, an initiative benefiting 673
municipalities in four states - Bahia, Pernambuco, Rio Grande do Norte
and São Paulo, concession areas of Coelba, Celpe, Cosern e Elektro,
respectively. The action amounted to R$ 7.5 million in funds from PEE,
and will contribute to the immunization of the population and the fight
against the covid-19 pandemic in cities with the lowest Municipal Human
Development Indexes (HDI) in the areas where the group's companies
operate.
Other actions within the scope of the program have
contributed to the support of the population since last year. The
project, classified as of Great Relevance Covid-19 Hospitals
equipped hospitals in Bahia and Pernambuco during the first half of
2020, benefitting 75 units with more efficient equipment. 182
refrigerators and freezers and 99 air conditioning equipment were
installed. In addition, 7,935 lamps were replaced with LED models, which
are more efficient and may provide average savings of 40% in the
building lighting system.