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Residential solar energy can be a worthwhile investment. See the average installation costs and the estimated time to see a return on your electricity bill
In recent years, solar energy has established itself as a viable and profitable alternative in Brazil. The drop in the cost of solar panels is driving the adoption of the technology in different regions of the country.
A survey by the Meu Financiamento Solar platform revealed that the prices of solar systems fell by around 60% between 2022 and 2025, making investment more accessible for consumers with different profiles.
Currently, more than 4,6 million properties In Brazil, they already have their own generation of solar energy, including homes, businesses, industries, rural properties and public buildings.
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According to the Brazilian Association of Photovoltaic Solar Energy (ABSOLAR), the installed capacity of photovoltaic technology already reaches 35 gigawatts (GW), with accumulated investments that exceeded $ 164 billion.
The popularization of solar energy occurs amid the search for renewable sources and the need to reduce electricity costs. The more affordable price and quick return on investment have been decisive factors for many consumers who choose to install solar systems on their roofs.
Solar energy: Economy and return on investment
The return on investment in solar energy depends on factors such as region and size of the installed system. The survey analyzed prices of more than 3 thousand companies installed and pointed out that the annual rate of return on investment varies between 35 45% and%, depending on local conditions.
In practice, this means that a consumer can recover the amount invested in solar energy in about three years, based on the monthly savings obtained on the electricity bill.
To exemplify, the residence in the Southeast that consumes 347 kWh per month would need a minimum system of 3,3 kWp to meet all your electricity needs. In the Northeast, where there is more sunlight, a smaller solar energy system may be enough to meet the same consumption.
Solar energy price and return on investment simulation:
| Consumer Type | System Power | Average Price (BRL) | Savings on your Electricity Bill (R$) | Annual Savings (R$) | Annual Rate of Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential | 5 kWp | 12.906,00 | 400 | 4.800,00 | 37% |
| Residential | 6,6 kWp | 16.988,00 | 500 | 6.000,00 | 35% |
| Residential | 7,6 kWp | 18.165,00 | 600 | 7.200,00 | 40% |
| Residential | 8,8 kWp | 20.518,00 | 700 | 8.400,00 | 41% |
| Residential | 10 kWp | 22.692,00 | 800 | 9.600,00 | 42% |
| Residential | 12,2 kWp | 26.318,00 | 1.000,00 | 12.000,00 | 46% |
| Commercial | 25,5 kWp | 54.500,00 | 2.000,00 | 24.000,00 | 44% |
| Commercial | 50,5 kWp | 122.900,00 | 4.000,00 | 48.000,00 | 39% |
Financing of solar systems
For those who want to invest in solar energy, several financing options are available on the market. The installments can be adjusted according to the financing term, ranging from 36 to 84 months.
Financing simulation for different system sizes:
| Consumer Type | System Power | Average Price (BRL) | 36 x Installments (R$) | 60 x Installments (R$) | 84 x Installments (R$) | Monthly savings on your electricity bill (R$) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential | 5 kWp | 12.906,00 | 575 | 428 | 388 | 400 |
| Residential | 6,6 kWp | 16.988,00 | 745 | 554 | 500 | 500 |
| Residential | 7,6 kWp | 18.165,00 | 793 | 590 | 534 | 600 |
| Residential | 8,8 kWp | 20.518,00 | 891 | 663 | 600 | 700 |
| Residential | 10 kWp | 22.692,00 | 981 | 730 | 661 | 800 |
| Residential | 12,2 kWp | 26.318,00 | 1.131,00 | 842 | 762 | 1.000,00 |
| Commercial | 25,5 kWp | 54.500,00 | 2.296,00 | 1.702,00 | 1.547,00 | 2.000,00 |
| Commercial | 50,5 kWp | 122.900,00 | 5.131,00 | 3.818,00 | 3.458,00 | 4.000,00 |
Industry growth and company mergers
The solar energy sector has attracted significant investment. In 2024, mergers and acquisitions grew 76%, totalizing 51 transactions. This movement encompasses both large plants and small-scale projects.
Greener Consulting Agreements 35 operations involving solar plants, totaling 3,6 gigawatts-peak (GWp). In the market of distributed generation, Brasol was one of the companies that most expanded its imports, acquiring four plants.
Already in Centralized Generation, Atlas Renewable Energy acquired 11 Shell plants, adding up to approximately 600 MWp.
Differences between Distributed Generation and Centralized Generation:
Solar energy can be generated in two main ways: Distributed Generation (DG) e Centralized Generation (CG).
| Feature | Distributed Generation (DG) | Centralized Generation (CG) |
|---|---|---|
| Doors | Small installations, such as residential self-consumption systems (4 kW to 8 kW) or DG plants for shared generation. Basically, installations up to 3 MW. | Larger plants. |
| Own Consumption | Predominantly local self-consumption (simultaneous generation and consumption) and also remote self-consumption and shared generation. The surplus becomes credit. | Not directly applicable. GC sells energy to distributors and consumers. |
| Office | Not dispatchable by the National Electric System Operator (ONS). The energy is injected into the distribution network. | Dispatchable by the ONS, which controls when each plant operates. |
| Market Share | Do not participate in the Free Energy Market. Compensation is made through credits in the regulated environment. | It can be contracted through energy auctions or through the Free Energy Market through bilateral contracts (PPAs) or self-production. |
| Hiring Model | There is no sale of energy, but rather compensation of credits. | Sale of energy through auctions, bilateral contracts (PPAs) or self-production. |
| Boosting | Mainly by the residential consumer. | More focused on energy trading on the Free Market. |
| Energy Auctions | Do not participate in energy auctions. | Participate in auctions, although these are becoming rarer. |
| Challenges | Consolidation of the sector with larger companies acquiring smaller ones. | Generation cuts, low PLD (energy price) and demand that does not keep up with supply. |
| Storage | Battery storage systems for better use of surplus energy. | Not directly applicable. |
The future of solar energy in Brazil is moving towards greater decentralization. Small residential consumers tend to become consumers, that is, producers and consumers of energy at the same time.
For Mateus Pinheiro, an analyst at Greener, one of the challenges for this evolution is storing energy generated during the day for use at night. The arrival of electric vehicles could also accelerate the adoption of solar technology by consumers.
With decreasing costs and an accelerated financial return, solar energy continues to consolidate itself as an affordable and sustainable alternative for the future of energy in Brazil.
With information This is.
