Brazilian condominium slashes energy costs with innovative solar solution

Turning rising costs into solar savings

When rising electricity costs started impacting resident fees at the Terras Alphaville Sergipe II condominium in Barra dos Coqueiros, Brazil, management were compelled to find a solution. Embracing solar power was the clear choice to tackle these increasing energy expenses while investing in the future.

The resulting project – which earned the Excellence Award for Latin America in the 2023 Hoymiles Solar Project Contest – showcases how residential complexes can effectively harness solar energy to reduce costs while maintaining their aesthetic appeal.

Let's explore how the installation team at HT Energias e Engenharia LTDA transformed the condominium's energy challenges into an opportunity for sustainable, long-term cost savings.

The Terras Alphaville Sergipe II condominium was grappling with steadily increasing electricity bills. These rising costs were forcing management to raise resident fees, creating financial pressure across the community.

Determined to eliminate burdensome energy expenses for good, the condominium aimed to create a solar system capable of reducing its energy bills to virtually nil.

Hoymiles distributed solar solution is good at integrating scattered rooftops into one system

However, the installation team, HT Energias e Engenharia LTDA, had a few goals to achieve:

• Maintaining the property's aesthetic appeal

• Working within strict structural constraints

• Delivering reliable, long-term energy performance

• Providing robust monitoring for system optimization

• Integrating separate roof spaces into one single solar setup for easy management

With these ambitious objectives in mind, the installers set out to design and implement a solar system that could overcome these installation barriers while transforming the condominium's energy profile.

After careful analysis of shading patterns, structural capacity, and electrical infrastructure, HT Energias developed a comprehensive solution using 30 Hoymiles HMS-1800-4T microinverters connected to 120 photovoltaic (PV) panels.

Hoymiles' HMS-1800-4T microinverters brought several key advantages to this project:

• Individual panel optimization through independent MPPT

• Maximum power output for each panel regardless of roof orientations and conditions

• Unbeatable flexibility to be installed on any suitable surface

• Real-time monitoring capabilities

• Remote maintenance and fault diagnosis

• Enhanced system reliability

• Superior warranty protection

During installation, the team paid particular attention to:

• Structural integrity: Engineers assessed the building’s capacity to support the solar array.

• Aesthetic integration: The design carefully considered visual impact – critical for a residential building.

• Performance optimization: Panel placement was calculated to maximize energy generation.

• Remote monitoring: The system was designed with real-time performance monitoring and management in mind.

The eventual design delivered a reliable, high-performing solar installation that met the condominium’s objectives.

The 54 kW installation deployed 30 Hoymiles HMS-1800-4T microinverters.

The results have exceeded expectations. The 54 kW system now generates an average of 250 kWh, effectively reducing the condominium's energy bills to near zero.

The condominium's management can also tap into the Hoymiles monitoring system to access key information, including:

• Real-time energy production data

• Remote diagnostic information

• Performance optimization insights

• Transparent reporting for management and residents

• Historical performance analytics

This allows them to review the system’s output, identify any issues, and optimize performance to ensure

 the solar installation continues delivering maximum value.

For HT Energias e Engenharia LTDA, this project is another success in their impressive portfolio of over 220 solar installations with more than 1,400 Hoymiles microinverters installed to date.

Crucially, it demonstrates how complexes can transition to renewable energy while preserving their aesthetic and structural integrity – helping the project to earn the Excellence Award for Latin America in the 2023 Hoymiles Solar Project Contest.

The completed installation delivers reliable clean energy while maintaining the property's appearance.