Brazil roundup: Electromobility partnership, SolarEdge acquires Wevo, and more

Electromobility in São Paulo 

The startup Vammo has entered into a partnership with Raízen Power to boost sustainable electromobility in São Paulo.

The aim is to expand Vammo's network of battery exchange stations in locations where the Shell Recharge network offers recharging services. 

The partnership has the potential to increase the network of motorcycle battery exchange stations in the state by more than 100.

SolarEdge acquires Wevo

SolarEdge has completed the acquisition of the entire share capital of Wevo. The software startup specializes in optimization of electric vehicle charging and management of sites with large quantities of chargers, such as apartment buildings, corporate parking lots and public charging sites.

The Wevo solution will also be part of the SolarEdge ONE energy optimization system for the commercial and industrial segment, designed to offer SolarEdge customers a unique energy optimization solution that orchestrates and integrates local solar generation, battery storage and large-scale electric vehicle charging, SolarEdge said in a release.

Hydrological forecast

A study by Nottus, a data intelligence company and meteorological consultancy for businesses, indicates that there will be a period of below-average rainfall in several regions of Brazil in the coming months.

"More localized and increasingly spaced rainfall is predicted, even if it exceeds the historical average in some regions of national territory. The forecast indicates that we will have below-average rainfall in important hydrographic areas such as the Tietê basin, Rio Grande, Paranaíba and upstream in the Tocantins basin," said Desirée Brandt, meteorologist and executive partner at Nottus.

BRS investing in distributed generation

Usinas Brasil Solar (BRS), in partnership with Grupo 4M Participações, is investing 65mn reais (US$12.6mn) in five new distributed generation solar projects.

Two of them are located in Ceará state (Guaraci, 5MW and Dois Irmãos, 1MW) and three in São Paulo state (Bebedouro, 3MW, Taiúva, 1MW and Araraquara, 1MW), totaling 11MW of capacity.

Most of them are scheduled to start operations in June 2024.

Acelen and Bunker One supplying vessels with fuel

Acelen and Bunker One have reached the milestone of supplying 100 vessels in the São Marcos Bay anchorage area in Maranhão in the last six months. 

According to Cristiano da Costa, Acelen's commercial, trading and shipping vice president, the supply of fuel continues on a permanent basis and is growing steadily in Brazil.

Compagas to distribute biomethane

Compagas plans to distribute up to 15% biomethane through its piped gas networks by 2026. 

The aim is to connect the distribution grid with the main biomethane producing areas to make it possible to transport the renewable fuel through pipelines, increasing use of the gas.

Energy in the Amazon

Nextracker will invest US$25,000 in the Kurasí Tury project, a Revolusolar pilot for the development of a new sustainable and affordable energy model for indigenous communities in the Amazon. 

The Kurasí Tury project has already installed a photovoltaic system and an inverter at the Arú Waimi municipal indigenous school in the Terra Preta indigenous community, 55km from Manaus, capital of Amazonas state.