Brazil is consolidating its position as a global leader in the transition to clean energy sources, with a notable increase in installed solar energy capacity in 2023. According to recent data, the country has reached a significant milestone, recording a record energy expansion solar energy in its electrical matrix.
From January to August 2023, the installed capacity of the Brazilian electricity matrix grew by an impressive 7 Gigawatts (GW). Of this total, 6.2 GW came from solar and wind sources. This year is already considered historic due to the largest increase ever recorded in solar generation and the second largest increase in wind energy compared to previous years. As a result, renewable sources now represent an impressive 83,79% of the country's entire electrical matrix, making Brazil an international reference in clean energy.
Solar energy played a fundamental role in this advancement, contributing an addition of 3 Gigawatts to the Brazilian energy matrix. At the same time, wind energy also had an impressive performance, with an increase of 3.2 GW in the National Interconnected System (SIN). The Minister of Mines and Energy, Alexandre Silveira, emphasized Brazil's commitment to sustainability, stating: “Brazil has more than 80% of clean and renewable energy matrix. We are capable of leading the energy transition internationally. We will continue investing in sustainable energy sources, to play this role and show the world what we are capable of.”
Furthermore, during the first nine months of 2023, the country witnessed the largest increase in centralized solar generating capacity in its history. This contrasts with the previous year, when the annual increase totaled just 2.5 Gigawatts, demonstrating significant and accelerated growth in 2023.
It is important to highlight that these numbers do not yet include distributed micro and minigeneration, which includes the installation of solar panels in homes, businesses, factories and small plants connected directly to the distribution concessionaire network.
Most of the increase in generation capacity in 2023 was driven by wind (46%) and photovoltaic (43.9%) sources, contributing to the electricity sector's expansion target of 10.3 GW for the year. Centralized photovoltaic generation already has 18 thousand solar panels installed across the country, with capacity to produce 10.3 Gigawatts. The National Interconnected System also includes 954 wind turbines, representing 10.3 GW in nominal values.
In addition to solar and wind, Brazil has vast hydraulic potential, with 1,351 hydroelectric plants representing 56.17% of capacity and a power of 109.8 GW. Biomass also plays an important role, accounting for 16.7 GW across 634 plants.
To further boost the renewable energy sector, the new Growth Acceleration Program (PAC) is allocating R$ 73.1 billion in investment in power generation projects, with R$ 64.8 billion going towards renewable sources. Photovoltaic plants will lead this investment, with 8.5 Gigawatts planned, representing more than half of the power generation forecast by the PAC, with an investment of R$ 41.5 billion. Wind generation will also receive R$ 22 billion, with 120 projects planned, which will add 5.2 GW to the electricity system. In addition, 20 new small hydroelectric plants are confirmed, costing R$ 1.3 billion, to further drive the diversification of clean energy sources in Brazil.
