Brazil's total operational solar PV capacity has exceeded 35 GW with the distributed generation (DG) segment accounting for 70% of the lot, said local solar energy association ABSOLAR in a statement on November 13, 2023. The sector now represents more than 1 million jobs.
The DG segment, driven by residential installations, is leading PV installations in the country with 24.4 GW, followed by 10.6 GW centralized solar power plants representing the remaining 30% share.
"Solar technology is currently used in 99.9% of all distributed generation connections in the country, easily leading the segment," stated the association.
While large-scale solar power plants represent around BRL 47.6 billion in new investments, and contributing revenues of more than BRL 16.7 billion to the public coffers, the association says it is the DG segment that has brought in close to BRL 122.5 billion in investments, and BRL 31.2 billion in revenues.
Earlier, the association had said that within 10M/2023, Brazil's DG segment grew by close to 6 GW over the 17.95 GW reported at the end of 2022. The centralized PV segment grew by around 3 GW over the same period.
Solar PV now makes up 15.6% of the country's total energy generation mix of 219.73 GW. It is next to hydroelectric technology that accounts for a 50% share with a combined capacity of 110 GW.
A total of 8 solar PV module manufacturers are registered with the BNDES FINAME along with 9 solar tracker and 10 PV inverter producers. However, ABSOLAR demands the country to devise a competitive and fair industrial policy for the sector to drive down component prices and encourage innovation.