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In 2024, Brazil entered the world’s Top 4 in renewable installations, with costs equal to China’s. In the same year, the Luz para Todos Program did not meet its targets in 6 of the 9 states of the Legal Amazon — and 993 schools and 217 health centers in the region still lack electricity.
Brazil’s renewable energy reached the world’s Top 4 in 2024, according to IRENA.
According to IRENA (International Renewable Energy Agency), Brazil installed more renewable capacity in 2024 than almost anywhere else in the world.
Brazil’s renewable energy reached the 3rd global position in cumulative capacity, with 204 GW installed — and the country entered the Top 4 in annual expansion rate.
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Renewable energy sources are gaining global prominence by driving the energy transition and reducing environmental impacts in the face of advancing climate change.
However, the same Brazil that competes with China, the USA, and the European Union in clean energy still has 425,000 families in the Amazon living without any access to electricity.
Therefore, the paradox is real: the country exports green technology while failing to connect the grid to its own forest.
Furthermore.
the Luz para Todos Program has existed since 2003 to universalize access to energy.
However, it failed to meet its targets in 6 of the 9 states of the Legal Amazon in 2024, according to IDEC (Brazilian Institute for Consumer Defense).
After 21 years of the program, it still hasn’t reached everyone.
Brazil’s renewable energy in the world’s Top 4: the leadership numbers
Brazil’s position in the global renewable ranking was not achieved suddenly. In 2023, the country was the 4th largest installer of solar energy in the world, adding almost 12 GW in a single year.
In 2024, it maintained the pace and expanded its leadership.
According to IRENA, Brazil’s competitive costs are impressive: onshore wind energy costs US$ 30/MWh — the same level as China. Photovoltaic solar energy costs US$ 48/MWh.
These values make Brazil one of the most competitive markets on the planet for clean generation.
Furthermore, the sector generates wealth.
In 2024, Brazil created 323,800 jobs in solar energy in 2024 — surpassing the USA for the first time.
With this, it ranked 3rd globally in solar, behind only China and India, according to IRENA and ILO.
- 3rd global position in cumulative renewable capacity (204 GW)
- 4th global position in annual renewable expansion in 2024
- 53 GW of installed solar — 6th position in specific solar
- US$ 30/MWh — onshore wind cost, equal to China
- 323,800 jobs in solar — surpassed the USA in 2024
- 1.4 million total jobs in the renewable sector
In other words, Brazil has built one of the cheapest and most job-creating renewable matrices on the planet. As global renewable expansion accelerated in 2024, Brazil was one of the countries that most drove this growth.
The other side: 425,000 Amazonian families in the dark
The survey by Oeco.org.br portal, based on data from IEMA (Energy and Environment Institute), reveals that the Legal Amazon still concentrates over 425,000 families without electricity.
In this sense, Brazil has two parallel realities: that of the technological frontier and that of energy exclusion.
According to ANEEL data from July 2024, the deficit is precise: there are 70,495 households, 993 schools, and 217 health units in the Amazon without connection to the electricity grid.
Therefore, children study without computers, health centers operate without vaccine refrigeration.
Similarly, Northern Brazil concentrates 52% of the country’s entire rural population without access to electricity, according to IBGE. In other regions, the problem has been practically solved. In the Amazon, it persists.
Consequently, the Luz para Todos Program allocated R$ 4.3 billion for 2025 — the largest budget in the program’s 21 years.
However, in 2024, it did not meet its targets in 6 of the 9 states of the Legal Amazon, as found by IDEC.
The Luz para Todos Program: 21 years and unfulfilled targets in the Amazon
The program has existed since 2003. In 21 years, it has connected millions of Brazilians to the electricity grid. However, remote areas of the Amazon present logistical challenges that the conventional distribution model does not solve.
Riverside and indigenous communities live in places without roads. Extending conventional distribution lines in these cases would be economically unfeasible.
Therefore, the solution lies in isolated solar systems — technology that Brazil masters, but which has not yet reached everyone.
Even so, IDEC points out that the issue goes beyond logistics. The supply rules for remote areas are inadequate for the reality of Amazonian communities.
Thus, the program advances, but the model needs structural adaptation to close the cycle.
Abundant solar irradiation where the grid has not yet arrived
Brazil has a powerful natural resource exactly where energy is most lacking. The Amazon and the Northeast exhibit some of the highest solar irradiation rates on the planet.
Therefore, the technical solution exists: isolated photovoltaic systems are viable in these regions.
Furthermore, the cost of these installations has fallen by over 80% in the last decade.
According to IRENA, solar energy cost US$ 48/MWh in Brazil in 2024 — competitive enough to illuminate remote schools without grid connection.
The renewable energy paradox: global leader and schools without light
The expansion of renewables worldwide accelerated historically in 2024. Brazil was a protagonist in this movement — with competitive costs, installation volume, and job creation.
On the other hand, the quality of energy for those who already have access is also a challenge. In 2025, Brazilians were, on average, 9.3 hours without power throughout the year, according to ANEEL.
The Northeast and the Amazon concentrate the worst indicators.
Thus, Brazil faces a double challenge. The first: to continue expanding renewable capacity —
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