Solar energy started 2026 maintaining the leading role observed throughout the previous year. If in 2025 it was the source that added the most installed capacity and new plants to the market... without (National Interconnected System), in January the scenario repeated itself.
According to data from the ANEEL According to the National Electric Energy Agency, Brazil added 543 MW to its electricity grid in the first month of the year.
Of this total, 509 MW came from 11 new photovoltaic solar plants that entered commercial operation – equivalent to more than 93% of the expansion recorded during the period.
In addition to the centralized solar power plants, a thermal power plant (20 MW) and a small hydroelectric plant (14 MW) also began operating, bringing the total to 13 projects cleared for commercial operation in January of this year.
Leadership in 2025 and a leading role in 2026.
In 2025, Brazil added 7,4 GW of installed capacity to its electricity grid, with 136 projects coming online for commercial operation. Large solar power plants accounted for 63 projects, totaling 2.81 GW.
Next came 43 wind farms (1,82 GW), 15 thermal power plants (2,50 GW), 11 small hydroelectric plants (199,34 MW), one hydroelectric plant (50 MW), and three hydroelectric generating plants (6,70 MW).
By 2026, the outlook points to even more robust expansion. ANEEL It projects the addition of 9,1 GW to the Brazilian electricity grid. Throughout the year, the volume was 23,4% higher than that recorded in 2025.
The fact that solar photovoltaic energy led the expansion in January reinforces the expectation that the leading role observed last year will be repeated throughout 2026.
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