A ABSOLAR (Brazilian Association of Photovoltaic Solar Energy) released this Monday (10) the consolidated figures for solar energy in the country, with the update of the results obtained by the sector until May 4. According to the report, the country reached the mark of 8,8 GW of operational power, of which 5,48 GW of GD (distributed generation) and 3,32 GW of GC (centralized generation). This is an increase of 10% in relation to the report of February 28, when 8 GW were reached.
Since 2012, the solar source has been directly responsible for generating more than 240 jobs and investments in excess of R$46 billion in Brazil. As it is a clean and renewable energy source, the technology also prevented more than 9,5 million tons of carbon dioxide from being emitted into the atmosphere.
To date, Minas Gerais is the state that generated the most installed power in the country, with 977,3 MW. Next come São Paulo (686,1) and Rio Grande do Sul (681,2). On the other hand, Roraima (3,0), Amapá (7,5) and Acre (9,6) present the worst performances among the 27 federative units.
“We still have very little room for potential. Solar energy is already the cheapest source in Brazil and in the world. Therefore, the more solar energy in the grid, the cheaper the bill will be for all Brazilians, including in the reduction of food prices and the reduction of terrible red flags”, said Ronaldo Koloszuk, Chairman of the Board of Directors of ABSOLAR.
Distributed generation
In the DG segment, Brazil has more than 470 solar photovoltaic systems connected to the grid, which brings savings and sustainability to more than 596 consumer units. In terms of number of systems, residential consumers are at the top of the list, with 351.965 installations completed, approximately 74,9% of the total. Next come companies in the commerce and services sectors (36,7%), rural consumers (13,1%), industries (8,5%), public authorities (1,2%), public services (0,1%) and public lighting (0,02%).
Centralized generation
In the GC segment, the country has 3,32 GW of installed power in photovoltaic plants, equivalent to 1,8% of Brazil's electrical matrix. In 2019, the source was the most competitive among renewables in the two New Energy Auctions, A-4 and A-6, with average prices below US$ 21,40 MWh.
Currently, large solar plants are the seventh largest source of generation in the country, with projects in operation in eleven Brazilian states, in the Northeast (Bahia, Ceará, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Piauí and Rio Grande do Norte), Southeast (Minas Gerais and São Paulo) and Central-West (Goiás, Mato Grosso and Tocantins).
