High Electricity Bills Drive Increased Demand for Alternative Energy Sources in Brazil, Leading to Significant Growth in Solar Energy Production

Solar Energy Consumption Enables Significant Savings on Brazilian Electricity Bills for Those Investing in Solar Panels for Own Generation

Eight states in Brazil recently experienced increases in electricity bills approved by the National Electric Energy Agency (Aneel), namely: Pernambuco, Bahia, Sergipe, Alagoas, Rio Grande do Norte, Ceará, Mato Grosso, and Mato Grosso do Sul. The hikes are a cause for concern for consumers, who are now seeking other energy alternatives, such as solar energy, to save on their expenses.

In the state of Pernambuco, the electricity bill saw an increase of 18.97% for low-tension consumers. The other seven affected states also had their electricity bills increased by rates ranging from 18% to 25%.

Thus, the rise in electricity expenses led many Brazilians to seek alternative energy sources, which favored the expansion of other energy sources.

President of Absolar Highlights the Role of Solar Energy in Electricity Bill Savings

The president of the Brazilian Association of Photovoltaic Solar Energy (Absolar), Rodrigo Sauaia, stated that the solar source is increasingly sought after by consumers due to the fact that it is more economical to produce energy from the sun than to buy it from other companies. Thus, according to Sauaia, it allows consumers to save directly from their own pockets.

Solar energy generation in Brazil nearly doubled between 2020 and 2021. Today, there are 161 large solar plants active in the country and 99 under construction.

This energy sector generated 15 gigawatts of energy nationwide and aims to increase its production through an investment of R$ 50 billion and the creation of 300,000 jobs, according to Absolar.

According to Rodrigo Sauaia, the solar energy production sector broke records even during pandemic years in the country. From 2020 to 2021, there was growth from 8,000 megawatts to 13.5 thousand megawatts, making the latter year the best in Brazil’s history for solar energy generation. He stated that the goal now is for growth to be even greater in 2022, so that this year represents a new record and becomes the best for solar energy in the country.

Solar Panels Play an Essential Role in the Growth of Energy Generation in Brazil

The main contributors to the increase in solar energy production in Brazil are self-generation systems, although large solar plants may impress with their size and technology. Solar panels can generate energy both from the direct incidence of sunlight on the top side and from the reflection of light on the underside.

In total, around 860,000 Brazilians produce their own energy, whether on rooftops, in plots of land, in the city, or in the countryside. An example is the case of farmer Maria Francisca de Lima, who lives on a farm in São Lourenço da Mata, in Greater Recife. Her home began benefiting from solar energy after receiving four panels from a group of friends, as until December of last year, Maria had no access to electricity. Mário Carlini, the owner of a bakery and a snack bar, also decided to invest in solar energy and is now managing to reduce his electricity expenses. In an interview with G1, he stated that the reduction in his electricity bill will reach 60% thanks to the 28 solar panels installed on his roof, and expressed a desire that he had made the investment earlier.