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According to the Brazilian Photovoltaic Solar Energy Association (Absolar), the sector has attracted more than 173.7 billion reais (31.24 billion dollars) in investments and over 1.2 million green jobs. The association advocates for improvements to avoid setbacks in the energy transition and expand the democratization of the technology with adjustments to the Provisional Measure for the electricity sector reform. Brazil has reached the 40 GW mark of solar energy on rooftops, facades, and small plots of land. According to estimates by the Brazilian Photovoltaic Solar Energy Association (Absolar), cumulative investments in this modality exceed $31.24 billion in the country, responsible for the creation of more than 1.2 million green jobs since 2012. According to the associations report, more than 5.3 million consumer units are currently served by photovoltaic technology, with more than 3.6 million systems installed on rooftops, facades, and small plots of land. Of the total connections, residential buildings lead the way with 2.8 million (79%), followed by commercial establishments with 356,000 (10%), and the rural sector with 306,000 (8.6%). Absolar advocates that the Provisional Measure for the reform of the electricity sector, currently being considered by the National Congress, should address serious challenges faced in renewable distributed generation, with the goal of further expanding the democratization of the technology and accelerating the sustainable energy transition. The main bottleneck is the obstacles to connecting small self-generated solar systems by distributors, who have repeatedly denied applications for new projects, citing power flow reversals, without submitting technical studies to substantiate these claims. In this regard, the entity expects the reform to require distributors to verify harm to the electricity grid to justify these denials. Another issue that must be addressed by the Provisional Measure is the exclusion of any discriminatory treatment for consumers participating in the Electric Energy Compensation System (SCEE). Ronaldo Koloszuk, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Absolar, points out that distributed generation enjoys broad popular and social support, with surveys indicating that nine out of ten Brazilians want to generate their own clean, renewable energy. Changing the rules recently approved in Law 14300, almost unanimously by the National Congress, would be an unpopular measure and inconsistent with Brazils just and sustainable energy transition, and could lead to unwanted legal uncertainty and judicialization for the entire sector, he emphasizes. We will continue working to improve the reform and modernization of the Brazilian electricity sector, always committed to working with the National Congress to build consensus and develop proposals that strengthen tariff justice, consumer freedom, and the balance of the electricity sector, without renouncing the energy transition and sustainability, adds Rodrigo Sauaia, CEO of Absolar. Currently, photovoltaic technology is present in 5,566 municipalities and all Brazilian states. According to the survey, the segment contributed more than $9.4 billion in revenue to the public coffers. In terms of installed capacity, the state of São Paulo ranks first, with 5.7 GW. Minas Gerais follows with 4.8 GW, Paraná with 3.6 GW, Rio Grande do Sul with 3.4 GW, and Mato Grosso with 2.6 GW. According to Absolar, the growth of self-generated solar power expands Brazils role in the geopolitics of the global energy transition. It also strengthens sustainability, eases household budgets, and increases the competitiveness of Brazils productive sectors. By bringing electricity generation closer to where its consumed, self-generated solar power reduces the use of transmission infrastructure, easing pressures on its operation and reducing losses over long distances, which contributes to reliability and security in critical times, Sauaia concludes. |
