BNDES approves financing for Copacol to invest in solar energy

The National Bank for Economic and Social Development approved financing of R$28,3 million for the Cooperativa Agroindustrial Consolata (Copacol) to invest in the installation of photovoltaic panels, aiming to meet part of the energy consumption of up to 50 cooperative units located in Paraná. The investment will result in 4,075 MW of installed power, with expected generation of 7 MWh per year, which will provide the entity with average annual savings of R$4,5 million in electricity costs.

The execution of the project will also contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. According to a tool developed by BNDES in partnership with Fundação Getúlio Vargas, the total volume of carbon captured will be 13.027 tons, which is equivalent to the planting of more than 91 thousand trees.

The financing was approved under the BNDES Fundo Clima program and corresponds to 90% of the total investment — R$31,4 million. According to the director of Productive and Socio-Environmental Credit at BNDES, Bruno Aranha, “this is an operation in line with the Bank's strategic priorities, which includes promoting the transition to renewable energy and promoting so-called low-carbon agriculture”.

“Copacol aims to offer the best products with lightness and flavor, through an exemplary ecosystem, which cooperates with everyone. Preserving nature means guaranteeing the future of generations and also of our activities: balance is fundamental. Therefore, we work with projects that reduce gas emissions — the use of photovoltaic panels is part of the strategies implemented, which include biogas and bioenergy plants. The partnership with BNDES makes an important step in our project possible”, states the cooperative’s CEO, Valter Pitol.

Established in 1963, in the then district of Cafelândia — which was part of the municipality of Cascavel (PR) —, Copacol is today one of the main agro-industrial cooperatives in the country, operating in several segments, such as agriculture, pig farming, poultry farming, fish farming and cattle farming. of milk, among others. The entity also has six own supermarkets and a distribution center in western Paraná, in addition to sales branches in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Mato Grosso do Sul and the Federal District. It has 7,3 members — of which almost half are small rural producers — and 16 employees.