Solar Energy in Brazil

Introduction

Brazil has a great potential for solar energy generation, but this is still a developing market. In 2012, the Brazilian Electric Energy Agency (ANEEL) published a new resolution (482/2012) to aid the connection of renewable energy systems to the distribution grid. Additionally, it created an energy compensation system internationally known as net metering. For further reading, visit Net Metering in Brazil

In 2014, the government organized the first specific PV auction, followed by others in 2015. In the 10 Year Plan of Energy Expansion 2026, the Energy Research Company (EPE) foresees an annual offer of 1000 MW of solar photovoltaic energy in Brazil by 2020. To read more about the solar auctions, visit Energy Auctions in Brazil.

EPE also produced a report on the technically accepted projects for the 2^nd Reserve Energy Auction in 2016, which is available in (English version).pdf English here.

Information on the Brazilian Potential, can be found at América do Sol or Brazilian Solar Atlas

Solar PV Knowledge and studies in América do Sol Project

The Institute for the Development of Alternative Energies in Latin America (IDEAL) launched the Project América do Sol in 2010, aiming to spread knowledge about Solar Photovoltaic (PV) technology and, therefore, encouraging the widespread adoption of this energy source in Brazil.  

In a digital platform, América do Sol brings together a collection of educational material and interactive tools, such as the Solar Simulator and an online registry of companies that operate in the Brazilian market. The project was developed with support from the German Cooperation for Sustainable Development, through the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and the German KfW development bank, and the PV Group of the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC).

More than 100.000 copies of printed booklets were distributed from 2011 to 2016. The two booklets are available online, together with a video animation.

The program also included support for technical studies for private companies and governments, such as the technical feasibility for all stages of the 2014 World Cup and participation in the National Electric Energy Agency (ANEEL) public consultation for creation of the Energy Compensation System (net metering), which culminated in the publication of Resolution 482/2012.

Two other important initiatives within the framework of the program were the creation of the Solar Label (a partnership also with the Chamber of Electric Energy Commercialization (CCEE) and WWF Brasil) and Solar Fund (a partnership with the German Grüner Strom Label - GSL). Also part of the “America of the Sun”, the Project 50 Roofs, was conducted in 25 Brazilian cities by companies in the PV industry.

In 2014, the program received the Energy Globe Award Brazil, Austrian award for projects in the renewable energy, delivered in 165 countries (www.energyglobe.info), and a partnership was signed with the Organization of Latin American Energy (OLADE).

Read more about it here.

Brazilian Solar Atlas

The Brazilian Atlas of Solar Energy provides a survey of the solar energy availability in Brazil, using over 17 years’ satellite data and a radiative transfer model. It was produced by the Laboratory of Modeling and Studies of Renewable Energy Resources (LABREN) of the Science Center of Terrestrial System (CCST) from National Institute for Space Research (INPE) in a collaborative effort with researchers from different Brazilian institutions: Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC) and Federal Institute of Santa Catarina (IFSC).

The Second Edition of the Brazilian Atlas of Solar Energy was published in 2017.  The elaborated database is compatible with geographic information systems (GIS) and therefore can be easily used in feasibility studies in development projects.

The first edition was published in 2006, and was one of the products of the SWERA Project (Solar and Wind Energy Resource Assessment), funded by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and co-funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The project was initiated in 2001, under the coordination of the Division of Climate and Environment, Weather Forecasting and Climate Studies Center of the National Institute for Space Research (DMA / CPTEC / INPE) and targeted products for solar energy application in Brazil. They were developed in a partnership with the Solar Energy Laboratory of the Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (LABSOLAR / UFSC).

Concentrating Solar Power Brazilian Digital Platform

With the goal of disseminating knowledge on solar thermal technology, the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI) and the German Cooperation for Sustainable Development through the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and the KfW Development Bank developed an Online Platform for Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) http://energiaheliotermica.gov.br/en/, under the Concentrating Solar Power Project (Projeto Energia Heliotérmica).

In this cooperation project, MCTI and GIZ created the conditions for the application and dissemination of CSP technologies in Brazil.

Rio Solar Map

The Secretariat of Economic Development, Energy, Industry and Services of the Government of the State of Rio de Janeiro (SEDEIS), the Brazilian Energy Planning Authority EPE and the Institute Pereira Passos, from the City of Rio de Janeiro (IPP), developed an application that provides information about the potential of solar irradiation and the available area in each building of the city.

Developed with the support of the German Cooperation for Sustainable Development, through the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the Rio Solar Map was launched in 2016 at the German Pavilion during the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games.

The study, pioneering in the country, has mapped 1.5 million roofs and shows that the potential of photovoltaic generation in the mapped areas is greater than the residential consumption of the city.

The project integrates the portfolio of the Program Rio Energy Capital, which aims to mobilize society and promote the debate on renewable energy sources and energy efficiency. As a result, it is expected that the State of Rio de Janeiro became a Center of reference in technological innovation, energy efficiency and environmental sustainability.

The mapping of the potential of PV generation on Rio de Janeiro’s roofs and the application was developed by TerraGIS Geoprocessamento e Consultoria Ltda.-ME.

In 2018, this tool was presented in the Forum of Environment Secretaries from Brazilians Capitals– CB27, aiming to encourage similar projects in other cities.