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Minister Promises to Fulfill Dilma Rousseff’s Old Promise to “Store Wind”. The Government Bets on Innovative Technologies to Improve Energy Efficiency in Brazil.
In a scenario of growing demand for cleaner and more sustainable energy sources, Brazil continues to explore new ways to optimize the production and consumption of renewable energy.
The country, already a reference in wind and solar energy, is now targeting an old challenge: storing the wind.
This ambitious proposal was recently recalled by the current Minister of Mines and Energy, Alexandre Silveira, who reinforced the commitment to move forward with the plan to implement technologies capable of capturing and storing energy generated by wind and solar.
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The idea of “storing wind” is not new and dates back to 2015, when then-President Dilma Rousseff made the statement during a UN meeting on climate change.
At the time, Dilma was discussing the intermittency of renewable sources, such as solar and wind energy, and the urgent need to develop technologies that would allow for the storage of this energy for times when consumption exceeds production.
According to the newspaper Folha de S. Paulo, this promise, previously considered a technical and scientific challenge, may be closer to being fulfilled than many had imagined.
Dilma’s Vision and the Challenge of Energy Storage
When Dilma Rousseff addressed the issue of energy storage, she used a simple metaphor to explain the technical difficulty she faced: “The wind could be that too, but we haven’t yet managed to develop technology to store wind.”
This statement generated laughter and memes on social media at the time, but it reflected a reality in the energy sector.
While hydropower is the cheapest and most accessible in terms of maintenance and storage, intermittent sources like wind and solar still face the hurdle of not having a viable solution to ensure the continuity of energy supply.
The issue of intermittency is one of the biggest challenges faced by renewable energies. This is because the production of these sources does not follow a fixed schedule and can be unpredictable.
In the case of wind energy, for example, electricity production may be higher at night when the wind is more consistent, but consumption is lower.
Therefore, it is necessary to find ways to “store” this generated energy to ensure that it is available when energy consumption increases, such as during the day.
The Advancement of Energy Storage in Brazil
With this scenario in mind, Minister Alexandre Silveira announced a new strategy for the sector.
During his speech, he stated that by mid-2025, Brazil will hold its first auction for battery systems to store energy generated from wind and solar sources.
The aim is to create a storage system that allows energy produced during low-demand periods to be stored and used when consumption increases.
“I want to store the wind. I will store the wind,” Silveira said.
He also emphasized that with the development of these batteries, it will be possible to ensure that even when the wind stops, the energy stored in the batteries can be released to maintain the stability of the electrical system.
Moreover, the idea also applies to solar energy.
The minister mentioned that storage technology will allow for “storing the sun,” ensuring that energy generated during the day can also be used at night when electricity demand is higher.
This advancement could place Brazil at the forefront of energy storage technologies, becoming one of the first countries to implement such innovative solutions.
The Role of Batteries in the Future of Renewable Energy
The introduction of energy storage systems through batteries could represent a true revolution in the electric sector, especially in countries like Brazil that have vast potential for generating solar and wind energy.
Once developed and cost-effective, these battery systems will allow intermittent energy sources, such as wind and solar, to become more secure and reliable, even when production from these sources is not constant.
Today, wind farms in Brazil already account for a significant portion of the country’s energy generation capacity, with about 16% of the installed power.
Moreover, solar energy has expanded impressively, currently representing about 8.4% of the total electrical matrix in Brazil.
The combination of these two renewable sources with storage systems could ensure that Brazil continues to advance in the energy transition and becomes increasingly independent of non-renewable energy sources.
The Future of Renewable Energies in Brazil
The implementation of these energy storage systems and the expansion of renewable sources are important steps for Brazil’s energy future.
The country stands out globally for its clean electrical matrix, and with the development of new storage technologies, Brazil can further consolidate its leadership position in the use of renewable sources.
In September 2024, the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) began a public consultation to gather suggestions regarding the auction notice for capacity reserve for energy storage systems.
The consultation process was completed in October, and the auction is expected to take place by June 2025.
This auction is one of the first major steps of the government to ensure the viability of the new storage systems and to reinforce the infrastructure of the national electric sector.
The Impact of Renewable Energies in Brazil
Wind and solar energies are increasingly gaining prominence in Brazil’s energy matrix, and with the increase in their generation capacity, the country is expected to achieve greater energy security in the coming years.
According to the government, the diversification of the energy matrix and the increase of renewable sources will ensure the stability and sustainability of the electrical system, allowing Brazil to continue growing without compromising the environment.
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