Fazenda Santa Paula, located in the municipality of Barreiras, in the far west of Bahia, inaugurated an innovative hybrid energy supply system, which combines solar generation and storage in batteries.
The plant, which has 1,75 MWp of solar power for the irrigation system and 1.184 MWh of energy storage, was designed to supply up to 50% of the farm's energy demand.
Occupying an area of 23 thousand square meters, the project was developed in partnership with Micropower Energy and Bauer do Brasil, being recognized as the largest hybrid isolated microgrid focused on agribusiness in Brazil.
With 50 km of electrical grid spread over approximately 12 thousand hectares, the project faces high energy consumption, especially due to the use of large irrigation pivots that capture water from great depths underground.
Previously, this demand was met by a Small Hydroelectric Power Plant (PCH) installed on the farm itself, which limited the expansion of pivots and pumps. Now, with the combination of solar generation and the PCH, the system makes the farm self-sufficient in energy, allowing the potential to triple its production capacity.
Furthermore, the hybrid project will eliminate diesel consumption, preventing the emission of more than 970 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere annually. Another advantage of the microgrid over diesel is its savings, which can reduce electricity costs, enabling the use of irrigation and increasing farm revenue.
The solution also enables farms to operate in locations with limited access to the electricity grid and, with energy stored in batteries, will also ensure continuous operation, bringing productivity from uninterrupted irrigation.
“For us, the excellent implementation of a project of this magnitude shows how effective our logistics are and how Micropower EMS Smart Agro, an avant-garde system that, in addition to storing energy in batteries, defines which source and when the farm will use it,” said Sergio Jacobsen, CEO of Micropower.
“Considering the partnership with Bauer to combine this technology with irrigation systems, there is enormous potential for us to make the energy transition in agribusiness and also add a productivity gain two or three times greater. It is a milestone for the storage market and for agriculture, as it makes the use of irrigation viable in areas where energy has no prospect of arriving,” he highlighted.
“The partnership between Bauer do Brasil and Micropower reinforces our commitment to providing adequate solutions to meet energy demands, regardless of the region. With the ability to eliminate diesel consumption and reduce CO2 emissions, this initiative is an important step towards a cleaner and more productive agribusiness, expanding the viability of irrigation in remote and challenging areas,” concluded Rodrigo Parada, co-CEO of Bauer do Brasil.
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