The Companhia do Metropolitano do Distrito Federal (Metrô-DF), operator of the Metro in Brasilia, Brazil’s capital, associated of ANPTrilhos, launched the 1st station with capture of solar energy in Latin America in October 20th, the Guariroba Solar Station, in Ceilandia. The station is fully sustainable with photovoltaic panels, which convert the sun light into electric energy.
The project’s launch had the presence of the Governor of Federal District Rodrigo Rollemberg, the President of Metro-DF Marcelo Dourado, the New Markets Director of National Association of Passenger Rail Operators (ANPTrilhos) Rodrigo Vilaça, the Superintendent of ANPTrilhos Roberta Marchesi, among other authorities and guests.
The Photovoltaic Solar Energy System (SESFV) from Metro-DF counts with 578 panels and will be able to generate 288 thousand kWh (kilowatts-hour) every year, equivalent to 100% of the Guariroba Solar Station’s consumption. The system is connected to the local distributor network and the surplus of solar energy will benefit the entire subway system in Brasilia. The project intends to diverse the energy matrix of Metro-DF and will serve to sponsor new deployments in other operational units of Metro-DF, saving an average of R$ 150 thousand in the energy billing.
According to Metro-DF, the first stage of the project has other three solar energy plants scheduled to be setup until 2019, being two other passenger solar stations (Samambaia Sul and Feira) and one a Solar Power Plant with installed capacity of 3.5 MW at the Company’s Operational Center. Added, the 3 may generate around 5MW of energy, which represents around 33% of the energy demand hired by the company, currently running around 15MW monthly at the cost of R$3.5 million.
The president of Metro-DF Marcelo Dourado has explained that, besides the search for economic and environmental sustainability, the Guariroba Solar Station represents a change in the paradigms for the metro rail sector. “The three solar stations alone may produce energy equivalent to the consumption of 10 passenger stations. The goal is to generate up to 5 MW of solar energy, representing an economy superior to R$1 million/monthly in the energy bill, main input for the operation of subways”, he said.
Metro-DF transports about 170 thousand users/day. 2,820 passenger board at Guariroba Station every day. But the entire population will benefit. “This power plant will be a reference to the subway systems worldwide, due to its specificity of working in an electric transmission system in medium voltage that feeds the subway network”, has said Marcelo Dourado. Other metro stations in the world which has already installed photovoltaic panels are: Milan, New York and New Delhi.
“The Brazilian metro rail operators congrate Metro-DF for the project using solar energy. Even before the opening of the station, the project has already won an international award”, highlighted Roberta Marchesi.
In April this years, Metro of Brasilia won the Golden Chariot International Transport Award, in the category National Transportation Company of the Year, during the event “Goals of Sustainable Development – Transport and Peace”, on April 12 and 13 of this year, at the headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva.
Photovoltaic panels have a 25-year efficiency guarantee. The financial resources for Guariroba Station are part of the company’s energy modernization project, with a financing agreement between the Government of Brasilia and Banco do Brasil.
