Cemig resumes accepting applications for solar power plants

a simig (Companhia Energética de Minas Gerais) Once again analyzed DG projects (distributed generation) and the Access to opinions for projects Solar energy.

Analyzes were resumed amidst a series of Complaints from professionals and companies in the photovoltaic sector – Those who were suspending their project applications by the franchisor claiming “network saturation”.

Over the past few weeks, the program Cemig was claiming a lack of ability to act of power at most of its substations and, therefore, a chain of command will be suspended indefinitely.

The decision sparked unrest in the solar energy sector, especially in the northern region of the state, with hundreds Companies are afraid of closing their businesses. Without progress with their projects, most mergers have started losing clients and posting widespread losses, as you mentioned solar channel in others recent reports.

The problem was born forced Minas Gerais government To show and issue a advertisement about the topic. In the document, the country also alleged that Cemig does not have the ability to transmit power from part of its substations.

The local government also highlighted that the orientation of the integrated is to reach “Maternity availability map’, a tool created to show areas of greatest and lowest network saturation in the state while network structuring work was not taking place in the hardest hit areas.

According to Bruno Catta Preta, director of corporate relations at Genyx and state coordinator of ABSOLAR, the news of the lifting of the ban on Cemig Opinions brings relief to the solar energy sector.

According to him, it took two months of negotiations with the franchisor and state public authorities to reach a solution. “This decision will positively affect the solar energy market and help people who are eager to access clean energy with simple and cheap installation,” he noted.

The CEO of Genyx and ABSOLAR also highlighted that the issuance is an important step for Minas Gerais to fight to resume national leadership in distributed solar power generation, as the state recently lost the position to São Paulo.

What does Cemig say?

a solar channel also I reached out to Cemig to understand what prompted the company to re-analyze DG projects, as the franchisor reported that there was a network depletion. Below, see in full what the company responded to:

Cemig explains that due to the limitations diagnosed at some points of the transmission system (which include lines and substations with a voltage equal to or greater than 230 kV, owned by the transmission companies) to receive new power generation units, according to the current regulations, it is temporarily suspended Opinion analysis in these areas With the consultation of the authorities and agencies in the electricity sector.

After technical discussions with them, it was decided to re-analyze the delivery budget requests in cases where the constraints within the scope of the ONS Transmission Expansion and Augmentation Plan (PAR) are resolved. Those who have submitted contact budget requests with pending deadlines will be formally notified to resume analysis, in line with current regulation.

Cemig also explains that distributed power generation (DG) has been experiencing intense growth across the country since 2012, when Aneel’s benchmark decision on the matter came into effect. Recently, in just three months, a number of DG projects equivalent to two Itaipu power plants have been registered nationally.

In 2022, Cemig received over 160,000 requests to access the network, with a daily average of over 444 requests. These demands mean more power added to the system, which requires technical availability not just in the distribution facilities, but in the entire National Interconnected System (SNI).

To expand the system and improve services to customers, Cemig has invested R$7.2 billion in its distribution network from 2018 to 2022. These investments have allowed the largest volume of DG unit contacts in the country, both in terms of the number of installations as in effectiveness.

There are more than 2.5 GW connected, with an expected to exceed 6 GW by 2025. For the period 2023/2027, more than R$18.4 billion will be invested in the distribution system. Thus, there is an integrated expansion plan for the power distribution system.”