(BRK.A), (BRK.B)
Chinese battery and vehicle maker BYD has now installed 1 GWp in solar panels in Brazil.
BYD – a global leader in new energies – is immensely proud to have contributed significantly to the south American country reaching the overall mark of 3 GWp installed (1 GWp in distributed generation only), according to projections of the Brazilian Association of Photovoltaic Solar Energy (ABSOLAR), and data from Aneel.
In 2017, BYD opened its second Brazilian factory in the city of Campinas, exclusively to produce PV solar panels. Two years earlier, BYD also set up a electric bus production line in Campinas, and also began selling electric vehicles (EVs) and forklifts.
According to Aneel, there were 31,896 new connections of micro and mini generators in the Brazilian power network by the end of June 2019, compared to 35,139 systems installed throughout 2018. Considering installed capacity, the volume in the first half of 2019 was about of 361 Megawatts (MWp), which represents 91.85% of all installation in 2018 (393 MWp). These numbers confirm the growing size and importance of PV solar projects in Brazil.
Gustavo Tegon, Sales Manager at BYD Energy Brazil points out that the company, which is already a global leader in the manufacture of solar panels and energy storage systems, is also a setting a benchmark in Brazil. “Following the establishment of the solar panel factory in Campinas, much of the emerging solar market in Brazil has opted for BYD products for their quality, technology and delivery capability. Having reached almost 1/3 of the national market is a proof of our excellence. ”
BYD and Berkshire Hathaway
In 2008, Berkshire Hathaway bet on BYD’s potential, purchasing 225 million shares. It’s an investment that has paid off handsomely. Berkshire’s original investment of $230 million has grown in value almost ten-fold, and is now worth roughly $1.96 billion.
For More on BYD, read the Special Report: BYD, Berkshire’s Tesla.
© 2019 David Mazor
Disclosure: David Mazor is a freelance writer focusing on Berkshire Hathaway. The author is long in Berkshire Hathaway, and this article is not a recommendation on whether to buy or sell the stock. The information contained in this article should not be construed as personalized or individualized investment advice. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.