Ramon Nuche

In recent years, Brazil has stood out in the global solar energy scenario with significant growth, both due to its geography favorable to the installation of this type of technology, as well as social adoption and incentives. In 2023, the country broke a record for the expansion of photovoltaic energy, adding 3 GW to the national energy matrix. The installed capacity of the electricity matrix was 7 GW between January and August of the same year, of which 6,2 GW came from solar and wind sources¹. In 2024, to date, the production of photovoltaic energy has already exceeded 38 GW of installed capacity in the country, representing almost 17% of the national electricity matrix. According to data from ABSOLAR, another 9,4 GW will be added to the grid, resulting in a total of 45,5 GW in operation by the end of the year². This demonstrates Brazil’s progress in transitioning to a cleaner and more sustainable energy matrix and establishing itself as one of the main global solar energy hubs. Part of this progress has crucial support from the government, which has played a key role in encouraging the expansion of solar energy in the country, through favorable public policies and energy auctions. In addition, the drop in the price of photovoltaic equipment and the reduction in interest rates have created a favorable scenario for the market as a whole. According to ABSOLAR, the renewable source of solar energy could generate more than 300 thousand new jobs in the country and new investments in the sector could exceed the figure of R$ 50 billion². Today, photovoltaic energy is already used in several areas in the country, such as agriculture, commerce, industry, automotive and residential sectors. The applications of solar panels are very diverse, ranging from traditional installations on roofs to plantations or lakes - known as floating plants. It is expected that new technologies, which are already available in European countries, will soon arrive in Brazil, allowing better use of the local geography and flexible or dual application, as is the case of vertically installed solar panels, which are designed with a focus on the agricultural sector and can be used in crop fields, serving as energy-generating fences - which will further enhance the use of rural areas. All of this has been reflected and paving the way for a promising future in the Brazilian photovoltaic sector. By 2030, the installed capacity of solar energy in the country will grow to 28 GW in 2030, representing approximately 11% of the Brazilian electricity matrix - this is what EPE (Energy Research Company) predicts. Brazil is one of the countries that have emerged as a global leader in the adoption of photovoltaic energy and, with continued investments and favorable policies, in addition to the emergence of cutting-edge technologies for the sector, the future of solar energy here will undoubtedly be quite promising. References ¹Gov.br. Brazil breaks record for expansion of solar energy in 2023. https://www.gov.br/mme/pt-br/assuntos/noticias/brasil-bate-recorde-de-expansao-da-energia-solar-em-2023. Accessed in May 2024. ²Absolar. https://www.absolar.org.br/noticia/mercado-de-energia-solar-vislumbra-cenario-mais-favoravel-no-brasil-em-2024/. Accessed in May 2024.

Ramon Nuche

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Brazil has emerged as one of the global leaders in solar adoption