Particles from fires are deposited on photovoltaic panels, affecting power generation
Solar energy has led the expansion of the Brazilian electric matrix. Since the beginning of the year, more than 3,500 megawatts of installed capacity have been installed in the country, with 93 solar PV plants commissioned, according to data from the National Electric Energy Agency (Aneel). To increase the production efficiency of two solar parks in São Paulo state, AES Brasil is increasingly investing in technological innovations, such as monitoring and robotics to clean photovoltaic panels. “This has contributed to improved equipment performance, reduced uptime and operating costs, as well as the safety of our employees,” explains Alexandre Bezdigoyan, solar plant operation coordinator at AES Brasil, which was the first company in the country to implement this use of technology to clean panels.
During dry periods, there is greater dispersion of dust into the air. In addition, fires, which have been recorded in most parts of the country, emit more particulate matter that settles on solar panels. This means that the equipment receives less sunlight, which affects energy production. Recently, AES Brasil acquired two new robots to clean more than 550,000 solar modules at the Ouroeste and Guaimbê solar parks, which together have an installed capacity of 328.3 MW. The equipment is about five times more efficient than previous machines, with the capacity to clean 20,000 plates per day – or up to 4,000 plates per hour.
Dirt particles deposited on panels can also cause so-called “hot spots”, reducing their useful life. Therefore, AES Brasil has also started using drones that help map and inspect vegetation within five hours, making it possible to identify hotspots.
Drones also support the identification of “chains” (rows of units connected in series) that may be out of service, where analysis through a range of data was required prior to the equipment. “With the adoption of new technologies, we believe that the speed in identifying problems and fixing errors ensures a 50% increase in operational efficiency,” Alexander adds.
Expansion of the Oroesti Solar Park
In the second quarter of this year, AES Brasil completed the expansion of the Ouroeste Solar Park, with the construction of the AGV VII Solar Park. Now, the installed capacity of the plants that make up the complex is 178.3 MW, which is enough to supply a city with a population of about 800,000 people. This initiative is part of AES Brasil’s growth and diversification strategy, which is focused on driving a global, sustainable and profitable energy transition. (press office)
