6,000 kWh of solar electricity will reduce cost to power cattle ranch in Paraguay

It is often difficult for companies and ranches in remote areas to satisfy their energy demand through self-supply. Expensive fossil fuels, maintenance costs and noxious exhaust fumes are part of the normal course of life. Unfortunately, the world's developing countries are affected the most. In response, The meeco Group has begun to work on its first isolated application in one of these developing countries - Paraguay.

The Riacho-i S.A. corporation, located in the Chaco region renowned for its cattle breed, will soon have the first independent, turnkey solution in the Department of Presidente Hayes. "A main reason for the growing interest in the region is the increasing price for diesel fuel", says the director of meeco America Latina Dr. agr. Oliver Jann. "Until now the farm used only gas generators to produce electricity. Due to maintenance costs, spare parts, fuel and its transportation, average costs per year were too high. With the use of our system these costs can be significantly reduced."

There are an increasing number of ranch openings in Paraguay, and more and more land in the Chaco region is being used for cattle breeding. Hence, an increasing amount of electricity is needed where the electricity grid does not reach. While gas generators typically provided this electricity, the introduction of solar energy systems offer farmers a less expensive alternative. "4 KWp of solar power and 16 kWh of usable battery capacity are about to be installed. This is enough to generate approximately 6,000 kWh of electricity, sufficient to cover the needs of an entire ranch", says Dr. Oliver Jann.

This is just the latest step by The meeco Group in the off-grid energy market. "The Riacho-I application is mainly built for demonstration purposes. I am sure that more and more similar systems will be installed in the very near future", confirms Dr. Jann.