Seven keys to credit for SMEs to install solar panels

The governor Alfredo Cornejotogether with the Minister of Environment and Energy, Jimena Latorre, announced this Wednesday a line of credit with a budget of 5.5 billion pesos, destined to SMEs so that they invest in the placement of solar panels.

• The measure was promoted between the provincial government and the Federal Investment Council (CFI), and Its objective is to improve efficiency in the use of natural and energy resources, through the transition of the energy matrix towards clean energy sources.

• The maximum credit amount is up to $120 million and may be guaranteed through a Reciprocal Guarantee Company (SGR), such as Cuyo Aval or Garantizar.

• The maximum return period is 48 months and grants up to 6 months of grace.

• Financing reaches up to 80% of the investment.

• Rates vary depending on the amount requested with a rate equivalent to 50% of the variable compensatory rate, which currently stands at 20%.

• This program allows a medium-sized productive company, to generate 66,479 watts per year, with an estimated investment of 50 million pesos, to install 72 solar panels and their meter, which implies an installed photovoltaic power of 39.6 kW/peak.

• From an environmental point of view, it brings a reduction of 33,193 kg CO2 per year and contributes to a decrease in energy consumption, which is reflected in the service bill.

Reduce dependence on electricity

On the other hand, they highlighted the importance of reducing dependence on electricity in the sector, mainly due to the strong increases in rates proposed by the Nation in the process of eliminating subsidies.

“It is very important because in a tariff recomposition process, the reconversion of the energy consumption matrix gives the opportunity to incorporate the figure of distributed generation, making it possible for large users to be generators themselves, and to save on energy, that traditionally consume from the network”assured Latorre.

Meanwhile, Cornejo assured that in a second stage of this plan, he will try to include in these credit lines users who already pay the full rate in the province, which currently equal 25% of users.

“The plan is ambitious. The idea is to see how this incentive program works, and also see how users who already pay the full rate behave in terms of energy savings. The idea is that in a second instance of this plan, incorporate category N1 users into these lines of credit so that they can advance in energy reconversion.”

Currently, the Province of Mendoza has a total of 663 users who are also energy generators, with a total photovoltaic power requested for the 2016/2024 period of 12,953 MW, equivalent to the consumption of around 6,000 homes.