Copel has just completed the installation of solar power generation systems along the Paraná coast. With an investment of R$ 20 million, the new equipment directly provides renewable energy to 215 customers in 11 communities along the coast.

The new systems feature solar panels installed individually on homes and businesses, along with batteries with a 48-hour runtime to store energy produced during the day for nighttime use. The systems guarantee a minimum consumption of 80 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per month, which can reach up to 128 kWh/month during periods of peak sunlight.

This consumption allows customers to use refrigerators and other conventional kitchen appliances, top-loading washing machines, televisions, computers, and other common appliances, such as fans or radios. To heat showers, Copel will install, also through the Energy Efficiency Program (PEE), solar water heating systems with boilers. This equipment operates independently of the solar panels and uses the sun’s energy to heat water through collectors, storing it in a thermal reservoir for use when needed.

The availability of clean, renewable energy brings joy to Isolina Dias Mendonça, a retired teacher who lives in the Vila Fátima community in Guaraqueçaba. According to her, it is now possible to replace the gas lamp and enjoy various conveniences, such as charging a cell phone. “For us, this is exciting. This will meet the community’s needs,” she says.

Hamilton Amorim Lopes, a fisherman in the community of Vila Fátima, in Guaraqueçaba, considers the arrival of solar energy “a step forward.” “We’ve been waiting for this for years. We used to use a lamp powered by a car battery, but the charge didn’t last long. Now we can turn on the TV, the refrigerator, and the fan,” he celebrates.

The equipment was installed in 21 households on the western tip of Ilha do Mel, in Paranaguá; 15 in the Pindoty indigenous village on Ilha da Cotinga, also in Paranaguá; and another 175 located in nine traditional communities within Superagui National Park, in Guaraqueçaba. These are: Abacateiro, Ararapira, Barbados, Barra do Ararapira, Canudal, Saco do Morro, Sibuí, Vila Fátima, and Vila Rita.

Technology

The batteries used are a key technological feature of the project, according to Copel’s commercial director, Julio Omori. “With lithium-iron-phosphate batteries, we’re delivering a much more reliable system,” he says.

Solar energy was deemed the best option for isolated communities for two main reasons, explains the director: “First, because this energy source has advanced in terms of technology and efficiency. Second, because solar energy requires little maintenance, which makes it easier to serve hard-to-reach areas.”

Individual Systems

As for the decision to use individual rather than communal systems, the technical explanation lies in the ability of each resident to manage their own system. Another reason is that these systems have a low environmental impact compared to collective systems, given the protected areas where they were installed. “The environmental impact is practically zero in terms of environmental permits, vegetation removal, excavation, and foundation work. It’s a much less intrusive installation. And it’s faster, which was also one of the project’s objectives,” he points out.

Smart Meters

The project includes smart energy meters, which are currently being deployed. This will enable continuous, remote monitoring, from Curitiba, of everything happening in the 211 homes equipped with the systems. In addition, customers themselves will be able to track their consumption via the Copel app.

The meters allow the company to take a preventive approach, reducing the need for corrective actions. “The same smart meter that we’ve already installed for more than two million customers has also been installed for these customers, providing very detailed monitoring of consumption. The meter can flag any anomalies and provide information from the battery systems,” explains Omori.