EN 
PT_BR 
O free energy market once again registered significant numbers of expansion. In July, in the accumulated period of 12 months, the ACL (free contracting environment) attracted 5,883 new consumer units, highest rate in two years.
According to the Free Energy Bulletin, publication of Embraceel (Brazilian Association of Energy Traders), the growth was from 20% compared to the previous period.
In total, Brazil now has 35,142 free consumer units, grouped into 12,005 companies, responsible for consumption of 25,852 average MW, 39% of national consumption. Each consumer unit is equivalent to an energy meter.
According to the report, the free market continues to drive renewable sources, absorbing 67% of energy generated by biomass plants, 59% by small hydroelectric plants (PCH), 49% by wind power plants and 58% by centralized solar plants.
As a result, ACL absorbed 55% of consolidated energy generation from incentivized renewable sources (wind, solar, PCH and biomass), an increase of 21% in the last 12 months.
Other highlights from the Bulletin
- Number of energy traders reaches 512, companies responsible for negotiating 44% of all national electrical energy;
- In Pará (55%) and Minas Gerais (54%), more than half of the electricity demanded monthly by consumers already comes from the free energy market. In Paraná, 45%;
- In July, 12.5% of the energy volume traded was packaged in contracts lasting more than 10 years.
