O National Electric System Operator (ONS) announced today that, at 2:40 pm, the load of the National Interconnected System (SIN) reached a historic milestone, surpassing the 100,000 MW mark for the first time. The previous record, set on September 26, 2023, was 97,659 MW.
The significant increase in energy demand was attributed to a heat wave that swept across much of Brazil. At the time of the new record, the composition of the energy matrix reflected the need for different sources to meet growing demand. Hydraulic generation led, contributing 61,647 MW (61.1%), followed by thermal generation with 10,628 MW (10.5%). Furthermore, wind generation accounted for 9,276 MW (9.2%), while centralized solar generation and solar generation from micro and mini distributed generation (MMGD) contributed 8,506 MW (8.4%) and 10,898 MW (10.8%) , respectively.
The extraordinary rise in temperature in several regions of Brazil was cited as the main reason for the increase in load. The intensity of the heat led to higher electricity consumption, amplifying the pressure on the national electrical system.
In addition to the record in the SIN, the SE/CO (Southeast/Central-West) subsystem also reached a new maximum load level. At 2:35 pm, the load in this region surpassed the 60,000 MW mark for the first time, reaching 60,502 MW. The previous record for the subsystem was 57,791 MW, recorded at 2:30 pm on September 26, 2023.
Efficient management and continuous adaptation of the electrical system become even more crucial in the face of these climate challenges, highlighting the importance of investments in diversified energy sources and resilient technologies to ensure the stability of the country's electrical supply.
Read too: Planetary Temperature Registers Increase of 1.3 °C in Recent Decades
