Safe solar brings savings and more profit to Brazilian beverage distributor

Achieving solar savings without sacrificing safety

This large-scale system employs 50 Hoymiles MI-1500 microinverters

Achieving solar savings without sacrificing safety

In the city of Montes Claros, Brazil, a forward-thinking beverage distributor, JR Bebidas, is showing how solar power can be safely integrated into facilities handling flammable materials.

Their 90 kW system, which won the Excellence Award for Latin America in the 2023 Hoymiles Solar Project Contest, demonstrates how businesses can overcome complex safety challenges to benefit from solar.

Let's explore how JR Bebidas transformed their energy needs into a sustainable solution that prioritizes both safety and long-term savings.

The beverage distributor JR Bebidas recognized the potential of solar energy to reduce both their electricity bills and their environmental footprint.

However, the presence of flammable products at their facility was an important consideration when designing a powerful yet safe system.

Traditional string inverters, with their high-voltage design, could spark a fire if a fault occurred – a risk JR Bebidas couldn't afford to take.

The company needed a safer alternative that could deliver the benefits of solar without compromising site safety

After careful consideration and consultation with their installer, SOLMIG, JR Bebidas chose Hoymiles microinverters for their solar installation.

The project features 50 Hoymiles MI-1500 microinverters paired with 200 450 W modules, creating a robust 90 kW system.

Hoymiles' microinverters offered several advantages that made them the perfect fit for JR Bebidas' proposed system:

• Enhanced safety: Solar panel are connected in parallel in a microinverter system, so there is no voltage accumulation as in traditional string systems. The lower-than-60 V DC voltage eliminates fire risks caused by arc faults altogether.

• Easy installation and maintenance: The plug-and-play design of microinverters streamlined the installation process. Module-level monitoring also allows for quick fault identification and targeted maintenance.

• Maximum power output: Hoymiles microinverter system features module-level MPPT (maximum power point tracking) that ensures each module operates at its best level, regardless of how other modules in the array perform.

• Reliable performance: Hoymiles microinverters are renowned for their reliability and excellent technical support, ensuring optimal system performance for years to come.

By opting for Hoymiles microinverters, the installation team at SOLMIG developed a solar solution that prioritizes safety without compromising on performance or convenience.

The results of JR Bebidas' solar installation speak for themselves.

The company is projected to achieve a full return on investment within just three years, thanks to annual electricity bill savings of approximately R$125,000 (approximately US$24,000).

Beyond the financial benefits, this project demonstrates JR Bebidas' commitment to sustainability. By safely transitioning to clean, renewable energy, the company is substantially reducing its environmental footprint.

The complete 200-panel 90 kW system

Together, JR Bebidas and SOLMIG have set a powerful example of how businesses can successfully integrate solar power while managing safety risks.

This was a key reason the project secured the Excellence Award for Latin America in the 2023 Hoymiles Solar Project Contest, illustrating how solar power remains viable despite unique operational hazards.