"Brazil has enormous solar potential, but expansion requires effort, innovation, and courage." This assessment was made by Florian Wessendorf, CEO of Solar Promotion International GmbH, during the opening of the second edition of the Intersolar Summit Brazil South 2025.
The event started this Tuesday (28), in Porto Alegre (RS), at the FIERGS Events Center, and continues until Wednesday (29).
In addition to Wessendorf, the ceremony was attended by Celso Mendes, consultant for Aranda Editora, and Rodrigo Sauaia, CEO of ABSOLAR (Brazilian Photovoltaic Solar Energy Association), and Markus Vlasits, CEO of NewCharge Energy.
During the opening, Mendes highlighted the role of solar power generation in advancing the energy transition and strengthening consumer autonomy.
"Electricity from renewable sources like solar is democratic and is mature enough for access to become increasingly widespread," he commented.
The debate also brought reflections on the institutional and regulatory challenges that limit the advancement of solar generation in the country. Participants emphasized the importance of a strategic agenda that unites public authorities, companies, and sector entities around a common purpose: ensuring predictability and security for investments in clean energy.
For Rodrigo Sauaia, the moment calls for structural change. "We've always heard that Brazil is a country with enormous photovoltaic potential. Well, it's high time to let technological innovation flourish in favor of development," he stated.
According to him, Brazil has 258 GW of installed capacity in its electricity grid, of which 61,8 GW comes from photovoltaic solar sources — representing 24% of the national grid, consolidating solar energy as the second largest source in the country, behind only hydroelectric power.
“More than R$ 277 billion has been invested in solar energy in the country over the last 13 years, attracting 1,8 million jobs. Last year alone, solar energy generated around 450 new jobs, and this also helped prevent 96 million tons of CO2 from being emitted into the atmosphere,” he said.
Overview of solar energy in the Southern Region
During the opening, the potential of the Southern Region for the Brazilian solar energy market was also highlighted. According to the ABSOLARThe region has a total of 9 GW in operation, representing R$ 43 billion in investments, 270 jobs generated in the last 13 years, and R$ 13 billion in tax revenue.
"The state of Paraná leads the Southern region, ranking third nationally with 3,8 GW. Rio Grande do Sul is currently in fourth place, with 3,5 GW, and Santa Catarina is currently eleventh in the ranking with 1,5 GW in operation," he highlighted.
According to the executive, 45% of the installed capacity is on residential rooftops, 22% in commercial and service establishments, 21% on rural properties, and 10% in small industries.
Sauaia also warned of structural challenges in the sector, such as power flow reversal in small-scale systems, regulatory risks, and a lack of adequate oversight of distributors.
"We need more oversight of distributors and regarding competition, so that there is fairer competition between small and large businesses," he commented.
He also mentioned the power outages at large-scale plants, which have caused significant losses.
"This has imposed a severe loss on large-scale solar power plants, incompatible with the investments and the rules that were in effect when these plants were built. We have been closely monitoring these issues with the federal government, and..." ANEEL"The National Congress is working to resolve these bottlenecks for the market and the sector," he added.
Brazil could face an electrical collapse.
During his speech, Markus Vlasits, CEO of NewCharge Energy, issued a strong warning about the risks to the Brazilian electricity system in the face of the rapid expansion of renewable energy sources.
“We are heading towards a stalemate. The sad reality is that the Brazilian electrical system is not prepared for the amount of renewable energy that we are capable of creating,” he commented.
Vlasits highlighted the need to rethink electricity pricing and emphasized that energy storage is an essential part of the solution.
“We need to rethink how we price electricity. But we also have solutions, the capacity to innovate and overcome adversity, including energy storage,” Vlasits added.
The event, which marks the second regional edition of the Intersolar Summit Brazil South, will return in 2025 after being canceled the previous year due to historic floods in Rio Grande do Sul.
The program continues until Wednesday (29) with technical panels, debates, presentations of innovative projects and an exhibition fair with exhibitors from different segments of the solar sector.
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