Wholesale store saves money with solar energy and warns of a "challenging" market.
Atacadão has decided to rapidly expand the use of solar energy in its stores in Brazil, at a time when the sector is under pressure from high interest rates, record household debt, and slowing consumption.
The initiative, announced by the chief executive Marco OliveiraThe situation, which is occurring in stores across various regions of the country and is already showing a direct impact on operational costs, has gained prominence within the Carrefour group, as the market remains “challenging.”
According to the executive, the facilities already meet between 40% and 50% of the energy demand of the units that received the equipment, reinforcing a strategy that has become essential to maintain competitiveness in an adverse economic environment.
Solar panels are already installed in 25 stores and are expected to be extended to all new locations.
So far, Atacadão has installed solar panels in 25 of its 385 stores across the country. According to Marco Oliveira, Carrefour’s guideline is clear: all new units must be built equipped with solar energy.
The cost has also dropped significantly. When the project began, installation per store cost around R$ 7 million.
Today, the cost is between R$ 3 million and R$ 4 million, thanks to cheaper equipment and advancements that have made the structures lighter.
“The cost of reinforcing the store structure is much lower,” Oliveira stated. He further explained that the company holds an auction to contract suppliers for each new installation.
Energy is one of the biggest expenses on the grid.
The president of Atacadão emphasized that electricity is one of the main costs of the business, especially air conditioning.
In stores that don’t have solar energy, the monthly bill ranges from R$100 to R$150, making a photovoltaic project essential to alleviate expenses.
Therefore, Atacadão’s strategy of saving on electricity bills with solar panels, while viewing the market as still “challenging,” guides investments even in a year of contraction.
The most recent installations took place in three units in Pará, brought forward by Belém’s preparations for COP30.
The plan foresees 25 new solar panel installations per year.
Atacadão plans to install solar panels in 25 stores per year, expanding the sustainability of the chain and reducing its dependence on traditional energy.
Despite the pace, the expansion of new stores will be more cautious.
By 2026, the forecast is to open between 10 and 15 units. The potential for the next five years reaches 120 new locations. storesBut this will depend directly on the country’s economic conditions.
“The issue of the slower pace of openings that we will see in 2026 and 2027 is not linked to market potential, but much more to the interest rate,” Oliveira pointed out.
“With 15% annual interest, it’s difficult to make the investment viable.” The average investment per unit is R$ 75 million.
In addition to the challenges of expansion, the wholesale sector faces a weakened consumer environment. Oliveira states that the situation remains “quite challenging,” reflecting the high level of household debt.
“Consumers are extremely indebted, with 75% of the country’s families in debt and no improvement in the short term,” he stated.
He pointed out that prices have risen in recent years, while wages have not kept pace, leading to a drop in consumption and an increase in “downgrades” as customers switch from traditional brands to cheaper options.
“As bets “They took a lot of money away from consumption. The ease of obtaining payroll-deducted loans also further increased indebtedness,” he said.
According to him, there is “a slight drop in volume” of sales, reinforcing that Atacadão saves on electricity bills with solar panels, sees the market as still “challenging,” and is trying to balance costs to get through this period.