The hybrid solution represents a R$ 18 million (US$ 3.47 M) investment and is expected to generate R$ 165,000 (US$ 31,800) savings per month
Por Celso Chagas
GreenYellow has signed an agreement with Mineradora Monte Cristo, a gold producer located in Nossa Senhora do Livramento (state of Mato Grosso), to install a system combining solar energy and battery storage (BESS). The system will operate in a microgrid together with existing diesel generators. The project represents an investment of R$ 18 million (US$ 3.47 million) and is expected to generate savings of R$ 165,000 (US$ 31,800) per month, while reducing the mining company’s CO₂ emissions by between 50 and 100 tons depending on the site’s energy consumption. The structure combines a photovoltaic system with an installed capacity of 3.0 MWp and a battery energy storage system of 5 MWh, in addition to the diesel generators and the local electricity grid.
The photovoltaic system is expected to generate about 4.74 GWh per year (approximately 13 MWh per day). “This energy will be enough to supply loads not served by the grid, charge the BESS, and significantly reduce diesel consumption,” said Gabriela Zarzenon, CEO of Zarzenon, the partner company responsible for EPC on the project.
“We developed a solution to partially reduce diesel consumption on-site and decrease dependence on the electricity distributor, especially during peak hours. In this way, the BESS can act on multiple fronts, such as backup, load shifting, and peak shaving,” explained Giovanni Milani, Commercial Head of BESS at GreenYellow.
The system is expected to begin operations in December 2026 and was contracted under GreenYellow’s Energy as a Service (EaaS) model, which eliminates upfront capex and allows the client to start paying only once the asset is operational. According to Monte Cristo CEO Vinicius Eduardo Silva, implementing the system will reduce operating costs and ensure energy supply. The regional power grid experiences frequent interruptions, significant voltage fluctuations, and limits on increasing contracted demand.