Brazil added around 9,3 GW of solar photovoltaic power in 2022, according to data from ANEEL (National Electric Energy Agency).
The performance represented the best year in the history of the sector, surpassing the previous year's record, which was 5,03 GW in 2021. In other words, a growth of more than 80% between the two periods.
In the accumulated history, adding up all the years, the country accounts for more than 23 GW of operational capacity.
Of the total 9,3 GW added, 6,6 GW came from DG systems (distributed generation) and 2,7 GW from GC (centralized generation).
The greater growth in own generation in relation to large plants occurred, above all, due to the deadline for entry of the new compensation rules of Law 14.300.
This legislation, sanctioned in January 2022, established a transition period that guarantees the maintenance of current rules for consumers who request access to their own solar energy generation systems until 2045 until January 6, 2023.
After this date, new connections will have a gradual and staggered charge for the energy injected into the electricity grid, reducing the profitability of the new plants.
The change, therefore, caused a widespread rush throughout the year by micro and mini generation consumers to install solar energy systems.
Distributed generation
According to data from ANEEL, solar DG added around 6,6 GW of power in Brazil between January and December 2022, compared to 3,5 GW in 2021.
In total, more than 688 thousand systems were installed in 2022, almost a third more than the 458 thousand connections registered throughout 2021.
According to the Agency, more than half of the installed power in solar DG in 2022 came from residential systems (3,74 GW). Next came commercial establishments (1,46 GW) and rural properties (1,01 GW).
The states of São Paulo, Minas Gerais and Rio Grande do Sul were the ones that led the advancement of distributed solar generation in the year, with 982 MW; 780 MW and 743 MW, respectively.
Among the municipalities, the highlight of the year was Florianópolis (SC), with 249 MW installed – almost five times that of Fortaleza (CE), the second best performing city (57,4 MW).
Centralized generation
In large plants, solar sources ended the year with around 7,33 GW added – a volume 58% higher than the 4,63 GW in January.
The amount helped to make the segment surpass other sources of generation throughout the year and becomes the fourth largest in Brazil, with a 3,88% share in the energy matrix.
According to ANEEL, the current 7,33 GW of solar GC is only behind hydroelectric plants (103,19 GW), thermal plants (46,2 GW) and wind plants (23,72 GW).
The country also closed 2022 with more than 77 GW of centralized solar energy expected to come into operation over the next few years. More specifically, around 4,78 GW from projects with construction started and 73 GW from projects with construction not yet started.
