Adding data from the CEO of Evolua Energia together with the renewable energy auction that ANEEL plans to hold in June, the estimate is that private investments will reach R$ 11,1 billion in solar energy

Installations for generating photovoltaic solar energy have made significant progress in recent years with the increase in incentives and the number of companies betting on the sector. Because of this, last year, the country managed to enter the group of the 15 nations with the largest installed capacity of solar energy in the world, being the only one in Latin America in the world ranking. Today, there are more than 13 GW installed, which is equivalent to more than 70% of the power of the Itaipu hydroelectric plant, the second largest in the world and leader in energy generation in Latin America.

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Currently solar energy is one of the most promising industries in Brazil. In 2020, the sector grew by 70%, while last year the jump was 64%, according to data from the absolate (Brazilian Association of Photovoltaic Solar Energy). Still according to the entity, in the accumulated since 2012, this source of energy has already brought to Brazil more than R$ 66,3 billion in new investments and generated more than 390 thousand jobs. With this, it avoided the emission of 17,5 million tons of CO2 in the generation of electricity.

The arrival of new investments in the Brazilian renewable energy market attracts new consumers

This year, expectations are that investments in the area will expand even further. This is very beneficial because it can guarantee greater energy security for the country in the coming years. Absolar's projections indicate that, in 2022 alone, photovoltaic solar sources should generate more than 357 new jobs in Brazil, since new private investments in the sector could exceed the figure of R$ 50,8 billion, adding the segments of distributed generation and centralized generation. At the global level, the tendency is for photovoltaics to become the main source of energy in up to 20 years, according to studies and analyzes by IRENA (International Renewable Energy Agency).  

Returning to the national scenario, due to the continuity of the water crisis throughout the 1st half of the year, the energy sector will continue to be pressured due to the additional costs in relation to the use of more expensive energy sources, mainly in thermal plants. In addition, there is the expectation of an increase in the energy tariff due to the acceleration of inflation in recent months. Another issue that will impact the segment is the start of payment of the Covid-19 bill, which energy distributors made throughout 2020, in the most intense period of the pandemic.

All these points should contribute to greater investment by companies in photovoltaic sources, which were further boosted with the approval of the new legal framework by PL 5.829/19 and the commitments signed by countries, governments and companies in the search for carbon reduction, driven by primarily by NetZero 2050.

Innovation: Subscription solar energy should become popular in the coming years

In terms of innovation, subscription energy is also expected to intensify throughout 2022, mainly in Minas Gerais, the leading state for photovoltaic sources in the country, with 17,5% of installed capacity. Overall, Brazil's conditions for solar power generation are extremely favourable. It is estimated that even the worst areas of the country are far superior to the best areas in European countries.  

Certainly, this year will be very important for solar energy in Brazil, taking into account the entire current electricity scenario, favorable legislation and the increasing attention of the population and companies to ESG guidelines. Today, it is well known that the intensification of the use of renewable energies is not only a socio-environmental awareness action, but also a way to generate new employment and business opportunities.

NOTE: The published content was written by Tarcísio Neves, CEO of Evolve Energy, one of the leading companies in energy transformation in Brazil, specializing in shared distributed generation. The content was received by Marcela Borges, from PR Especialist.