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» Solar Energy
The Sun is the planet's primordial source of energy. All existing forms of energy come from the action of solar radiation on the Earth. This radiation, which falls on the planet's surface, represents nearly 10,000 more energy than humanity's current gross demand for power.
To take advantage of solar energy, Petrobras has been developing thermal application projects to heat water and photovoltaic (a process through which it is transformed in electric energy through a photovoltaic module, with no intermediary mechanical devices) projects to generate electricity in its operational units.
Thermal energy is already used to heat water in homes and commercial facilities in several Brazilian cities. This source of energy is highly beneficial for society, as it allows for electric shower substitution and for a reduction in oil byproduct consumption. Photovoltaic solar energy is used in niches where its high costs are balanced out by the benefits allowed for by the reduction in energy supply logistics, usually in remote locations.
Thermosolar
Petrobras is undertaking a thermosolar unit installation program in several of its units, such as refineries, production fields, and service stations. Water heating systems are already in use in restrooms and kitchens of five industrial units, including at the company’s main office building, in Rio de Janeiro. The total area of the collectors that have already been deployed is 1,741.1 m2, while the water volume reaches about 101 thousand a year. With this initiative, the Company saves 857.5 MWh of energy per year.
| Unit |
Collector Area (m2) |
Volume of Water (liters/day) |
Savings (MWh/year) |
| Main office building (EDISE) |
100 |
10 mil |
52 |
| Capuava Refinery (RECAP/SP) |
182 |
10 mil |
86,1 |
| Duque de Caxias Refinery (REDUC/RJ) |
665 |
35 mil |
230 |
| Gabriel Passos Refinery (REGAP/MG) |
550 |
27 mil |
242,7 |
| Sergipe Fertilizer Plant (FAFEN-SE) |
129,5 |
10 mil |
139,4 |
| Bahia Fertilizer Plant (FAFEN-SE) |
114,6 |
9 mil |
107,3 |
| Total |
1.741,1 |
101 mil |
857,5 |
The photovoltaic systems have also been being used successfully by Petrobras. The company has an installed power of nearly 100 kW in photovoltaic panels. This is the case of small oil production platform monitoring devices, previously powered by diesel generators, which required ongoing supervision. Furthermore, solar energy has been used in duct cathodic control and protection (preventing piping corrosion), to provide energy to instruments, and for automatic oil pumping system activation.
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