Solar panels as electricity generators are becoming more and more attractive both in homes and in companies. The mutual benefit is that salaries are cut in half in some cases, and in the business world it even implies a better reputation because the practices are environmentally friendly and a differentiating factor compared to the competition. Those who install these systems note that demand has doubled in recent years.

The investment in installing solar panels in homes can range from 1,000 to 40,000 dollars, in companies it can exceed 300,000 dollars, for example in a farm in Santa Elena, or a million dollars in the case of KFC, which has its own photovoltaic power plant. with which it supplies 14 of its stores. These companies talk about process and results.

A hundred tons of CO2 per year would reduce the largest photovoltaic project for bananas in Ecuador

In December 2021, the Don Polo farm implemented an electrical production system with the installation of 720 solar panels, which produce 400 kilowatts, with an investment of USD 330,000. “We are the largest photovoltaic project in the agricultural part of the country,” says Ricardo Umpiérrez, general manager of Mundo Banana, the company that owns the farm. They save 50% of their salary and estimate that they will pay off the investment between six and seven years, so after the realization of the project, the assessment is positive. We managed to influence energy savings, reduce carbon emissions and strengthen our environmental protection policy”.

While last March, KFC inaugurated its own photovoltaic power plant, with an investment of 1.1 million dollars. It is located in the city of Intag, 30 kilometers from Quito, and has a production capacity of 1.5 megawatts, supplying 14 locations in the capital with this photovoltaic energy.

The newest location opened in Plaza de San Francisco, in the historic center of Quito, is number 151 in the fast food chain and is designed to, among other things, take advantage of electricity, reduce water consumption in its processes. which contribute to a friendly attitude towards the environment. “We will continue to implement sustainable practices in the next restaurants we build. Starting from store no. 151, we are further strengthening these points that we have been working on for the last five years and we will increase environmentally friendly technologies”, says the director of management and corporate affairs of the KFC Group, Javier Cruz.

Who can have solar panels?

All businesses and homes in Ecuador can integrate photovoltaic systems, according to those who provide this system. The president of the company Genera, Gino Pinargote, says that “in the residential sector, solar power plants can be built for self-consumption, which represent up to 99% of their energy needs.”

The general manager of Energycontrol, Jorge Andrés García, indicates that technically solar panels can be used in any home or building and what is needed is that the panels are accessible to solar radiation.

The investment to install solar panels, whether for businesses or homes, “will depend on the reality of each project,” and a 100% amortized return ranges between five and six years, says Pinargote, who adds that an entrepreneur can feel the economic benefit of pure and solid savings. for more than 25 years, since the lifetime of the solar panel is over 30 years.

Solar energy is no longer a “stake” of Ecuadorian companies, but an investment for the planet, although there are bureaucratic obstacles that can hinder its implementation

For his part, García indicates that in the case of homes, the investment will depend on the level of consumption or demand, as well as the available space to install the panels. “Generally speaking, we can talk about very small plants from 1 kilowatt to even 30 kilowatts. Investment in residences can range from $1,000 to $40,000”. He comments that photovoltaic solar technology is relatively mature all over the world, but in Ecuador only a few years ago it started to take advantage of its advantages.

And he adds that the benefits are countless in homes, from self-production of energy that allows you to save on the cost of electricity bills, to benefits for the environment because it is renewable energy, 100% clean, does not produce carbon dioxide emissions of the ecosystem, and does not use additional resources such as are water, gas, fuel. As for savings, it indicates that This will depend on the level of consumption and the size of the solar power plant, but in principle a solar system can generate 100% of demand, that is, up to 100% of electricity consumption can be saved.

In the case of companies, Pinargote points out the improvement in their operation related to the fact that solar energy is more profitable than that required from the public grid, in addition to the fact that the operating costs of electricity collection are reduced. “The entrepreneur can apply tax credits that enable additional 100% depreciation of assets of renewable energy sources.”

Companies are betting on solar initiatives to create friendly energy

In addition to the intangible benefit, which consists of improving the reputation by harmonizing the practice with the environment. “It’s a differentiating factor compared to competitors, also many banks grant preferential rates to companies with sustainability projects,” he says.

García states that in the last three years, Energycontrol has doubled and even tripled solar panel installations, while Pinargote indicates that in Genera, the demand for promising projects has increased by 50% compared to the previous year.

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