A priority when it comes to the challenges of climate transition, financing from the Regional Development Bank of the Far South (BRDE) for energy generation with renewable sources records significant growth in 2023. The total new investments in Rio Grande do Sul reached R $ 479. $8 million for small hydropower and photovoltaic power plant works. The volume of clean energy production is 208.4% higher than the operations carried out in 2022 (R$ 155.7 million).
Progress in financing renewable energy generation projects contributed to BRDE reaching a historic milestone for new investments in the state last year, when operations crossed the R$2 billion mark. “Increasing investments in favor of the new energy matrix shows environmental concern, but it is also a strategic issue in economic terms. “Therefore, last year’s performance in this area indicates how aligned we are with the sustainability agenda,” highlights the bank’s Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Ranolfo Vieira. Junior.
Among the new investments in the field of clean energy production is the implementation of the Iracema photovoltaic power station in the municipality of Montenegro. Led by Agropastoril Matheus, the project has received financing of R$6 million, and the power generated (final capacity is 1,374.96 kW maximum) will be sold to one customer in order to offset the costs of energy consumption. This is the case with retail chains, as long as the units are located in the area served by a single distributor.
The majority of new investments in renewable energy come from resources raised by BRDE from international partners. “This positive performance is a reflection of the Bank’s efforts to diversify its funding sources, strengthening our work in supporting projects focused on the energy transition. These are innovative models with very positive prospects in the very near future,” says Leonardo Busato, Planning Director at BRDE.
Hydropower
Another example of BRDE’s work on clean energy projects is the construction of the small hydroelectric power station (PCH) Saltinho, located in the municipality of Epi, in Serra. This is the largest hydropower project implemented in Republika Srpska with the support of the Bank.
The investment amounts to R$178 million, of which R$120 million is financed by BRDE. With an installed capacity of 27.2 megawatts, the project will generate energy to meet the annual consumption of 62,000 homes. Works began in September last year and are scheduled to be completed in 2025.
The volume of new project operations in the sector in Republika Srpska alone represents almost half of the total recorded by the Bank in new investments throughout the South region last year (R$ 961.3 million). Over the past five years, total funding for renewable energy generation in the state now stands at R$868.5 million (nominal values).
Text: Pippo Kirchner/ASCOM BRDE
Editing: Felipe Borges/SECOM
