Green electrification of agroindustry: Technical, economic and environmental performance of solar photovoltaic integration in Brazilian rural production

This study evaluates the technical performance, economic viability, and environmental impact of integrating photovoltaic solar energy into rural agroindustrial processes in Brazil's Northeastern semi-arid region. Focusing on a small-scale cashew nut processing factory in Serra do Mel–RN, the research analyzes the electrification of biomass-dependent thermal stages using a 16.25 kWp photovoltaic system and retrofitted electric oven. Over an 11-month monitoring period, the system achieved electrical self-sufficiency for the drying stage of the process, replacing biomass-based thermal energy with solar-powered electrification, and generating monthly savings of USD 1423.34. The resulting return on investment (ROI) was 7.6 months, significantly shorter than typical distributed generation projects. Environmentally, the transition avoided over 282 tons of CO₂ emissions annually. The majority of avoided emissions originate from the displacement of biomass combustion rather than grid electricity, highlighting the disproportionate climate benefit of electrifying thermal processes in small agroindustries. The model demonstrates high replicability across other agroindustries and aligns with multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including clean energy, climate action, and rural development. The findings confirm that photovoltaic integration is a strategic vector for decarbonizing agroindustry, enhancing competitiveness, and promoting sustainability in vulnerable regions. • Photovoltaic electrification replaced biomass-based thermal energy in cashew processing. • Thermal electrification avoided 282 t CO₂/year, representing 99.66% of total reductions. • PV grid-offset contributed only 0.34% of avoided emissions due to Brazil’s low-carbon mix. • System achieved electrical self-sufficiency and a 7.6-month payback period. • Results advance literature by showing PV-driven thermal substitution yields two orders of magnitude higher climate benefits than PV-only systems.