‘Brazilian solar arrays will include energy storage by 2027’

Solar-plus-storage hybrid systems will enter the Brazilian consumer market within two to three years, according to Júlio Bortolini, photovoltaic unit manager at Brazilian conglomerate Soprano.

That will mean distributors will need to expand their product portfolio and educate clients on the use of such systems, Bortolini told pv magazine.

With solar-plus-storage systems making up around 2% of Soprano sales, Bortolini said equipment distributors will have to consider that hardware cost reductions pose a challenge. “The lower the price of the generator, the more we have to invoice to achieve the same revenue value,” he said.

That 2% sales figure could hit 5% to 10% in 2025, the executive said, but inventory management will be critical as the cost of solar panels continues to fall thanks to oversupply from China. Distributors need to sell stock before falling costs eat into their profit margins.

Soprano is addressing the issue by focusing on operational efficiency and building strong partnerships with suppliers and integrators, such as module partner Era Solar and inverter suppliers Nansen and Solis. With more suppliers being lined up for 2025, Bortolini said, “Soprano is actively seeking new partners, in view of our commitment to quality and service to our integrators.”

He said portfolio diversity is a key strength and pointed out large, established companies can better adapt to changing conditions. “Despite all the difficulties, Soprano remains strong and has strategies to grow in the coming years,” he said.

The executive added the introduction of hybrid systems, need for greater technical capacity, and importance of solid partnerships would shape the future of the solar sector in the years ahead.

From pv magazine Brasil.