Distributed Solar Crosses 500 MW Mark In Brazil

• Brazil's distributed solar PV capacity as of January 3, 2019 was 501.9 MW, of which 317.9 MW was installed in 2018, according to ABSOLAR
• Total no of systems installed was 49,177 MW with residential segment deploying 75.5% of this
• Commercial solar PV segment has the highest capacity installations with 43.2%, followed by residential representing 35.7%, and industrial 10.3%
• The only state with more than 100 MW installed capacity is Minas Gerais with 109.5 MW

Brazilian solar association ABSOLAR says the country has achieved and exceeded the 500 MW milestone for installed capacity of distributed small-scale solar PV systems on January 3, 2019, referring to the country's electricity regulatory agency xc. Total number of installed solar systems were 49,177, representing 501.9 MW. During 2018 alone, 317.9 MW was installed.

As per the number of systems installed, residential installations contributed the highest share (75.5%) of the total. It is followed by the commercial segment (6.8%), rural consumers (4.3%), industrial segment (2.7%) among others. Capacity wise, the commercial solar segment claims 43.2% of installations, with residential representing 35.7% and industrial 10.3%.

The Brazilian state of Minas Gerais leads with 109.5 MW or 21.8% of this capacity installed and is the only state with over 100 MW in total. Rio Grande do Sul takes in 78.8 MW or 15.7%, and Sao Paulo has 61.2 MW or 12.2% capacity, among other states.

Since 2012, all of this installed capacity has attracted investments over BRL 2.6 billion ($704 million).

The Chairman of the ABSOLAR board, Ronaldo Koloszuk attributes this growth to an over 83% fall in solar modules, increase in consumer awareness and higher electricity tariffs.