Two young entrepreneurs from Curitiba have developed a technological innovation that brings a long-held dream within reach for many Brazilians: owning a personal power plant. As reported by Tribuna do Paraná, mechanical engineers Felipe Wotecoski (31) and Juliano Rataiczyk (30) have created a device capable of generating electricity in a backyard with minimal environmental impact.
Similar in size to a four-burner stove, the micro-plant can generate up to 720 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per month—enough electricity to power three to four homes and feed the surplus back into the grid. According to the engineers, this output translates to savings of approximately R$ 500 per month on electricity bills.
The system is sustainable and runs on renewable energy. “Large-scale hydroelectric dams are massive and difficult to manage. The idea is to decentralize production with equipment that is easy to install, operate, and maintain, meeting the growing demand for energy we see every year as homes fill with more electronic devices,” explains Felipe.
Geographic Limitations
Despite its innovative nature, the micro-plant has limitations. Installation requires a nearby water source—such as a river, stream, or spillway—and a natural drop of at least 15 meters (49 feet) to ensure the flow is strong enough to drive the turbine.
According to co-creator Felipe Wotecoski, a flow rate of five liters of water per second is sufficient under these conditions. This is a relatively small amount, considering a single toilet flush can use nine liters per second. While a medium-sized PVC pipe (40 mm) could suffice, the engineers opted for a larger pipe—similar to those used in household sewage systems—to prevent blockages and facilitate faster flow. Industries with pressurized water lines can also utilize the equipment.
Installing the generator is straightforward: the standard utility meter must be replaced with a bidirectional meter, which measures both the electricity drawn from the grid and the surplus sent back.
The meter calculates the net difference; if the user consumes more grid energy than the micro-plant produces, they only pay for the difference.
Conversely, if the property consumes no grid energy and feeds surplus electricity back, the user earns credits that remain valid for up to 60 months. These credits can be applied to any other property registered under the same individual or corporate tax ID (CPF or CNPJ).
Any excess electricity generated is fed back into the local grid to be used by the neighborhood, much like solar or wind power systems. A “home” micro-hydroelectric plant can be scaled by adding as many modular units as needed to multiply production. A key advantage of this modular setup is redundancy: if one unit stops working, the others continue to meet demand, operating independently despite being interconnected.
Each module costs R$ 19,900 to install, with discounts available for multiple units. This cost is expected to decrease once order volumes and mass production scale up.
Business owner Daniel Collere is already reaping the benefits of the project. Based in Colombo, in the Curitiba metropolitan area, Collere owns a small farm in Antonina. It was on his property that the young engineers installed and tested their first prototypes, successfully securing the licenses and approvals required for large-scale production and commercialization.
Collere explains that the power supply in his area, located along the Nunes River, is highly unstable, especially during heavy rain or strong winds. The arrival of the generator was timely, reducing financial losses from damaged appliances—such as satellite dishes, refrigerators, and television equipment. “I only go there on weekends, but power outages were constant in the late afternoon and evening. We had to use candlelight. It was almost romantic,” jokes Collere, whose property consumes about 300 kWh per month. The micro-plant now fully covers the farm's electricity bill and generates surplus credits to offset his main residence's bill in Colombo.
“For me, the investment will pay for itself in less than three years. It's a great project that also helps the environment. I have fish ponds and used to oxygenate the water using the natural flow of a river running through the farm. Now, because the water passes through the micro-turbine, it enters the ponds with much higher oxygen levels. Plus, the equipment does not alter water quality or cause pollution,” says Collere, who has also seen an improvement in his tilapia production.
Startup
Metha, the company founded by Wotecoski and Rataiczyk to develop the micro-plant, was the only startup in the state of Paraná selected by the Brazilian Funding Authority for Studies and Projects (Finep) to receive R$ 1 million in funding. This capital will allow the company to establish its assembly line and select national distributors.
The initiative is being developed within Vale do Pinhão—a municipal ecosystem aimed at making Curitiba the smartest city in Brazil—and is accelerated by the Federation of Industries of the State of Paraná (FIEP).
Via Haus.
This article was written by Gisele Ulbrich. The translation is powered by AI.
