Solar power and its perception by rural communities in southern Brazil

With over 23% of Brazil’s installed power generation capacity, photovoltaic solar energy is currently the second most used energy source and has been expanding at the quickest rate in recent years. Favorable solar irradiation conditions, incentive regulations, and declining small-scale installation prices are the main drivers of this increase. Due mainly to its ability to lower electricity bills and, thus, overall production costs, distributed generation from solar systems (DGPV) has grown in rural regions. Considering solar generation, Santa Catarina (SC), in southern Brazil, ranks tenth in the country and has seen significant growth in rural adoption. However, the significance of social acceptance and community perception in this context has been overlooked by the literature and government debates. By contrasting farms with and without installed systems, this study aimed to understand how DGPV is seen and accepted in rural areas in the south of SC. Face-to-face surveys with producers were used to gather data. The findings reveal original insights into the rural energy transition in southern Brazil. Social acceptance of DGPV is closely linked to the economic impact of electricity on production, with cost reduction emerging as the primary motivator. Environmental benefits and sustainability were identified as complementary factors. Among non-adopters, lack of information and high initial investment were the main barriers. It is crucial to raise knowledge of the economic and environmental benefits of DGPV in the area and to increase financial assistance and legislative incentives, particularly for farms that have not yet adopted the technology, to encourage its growth.