Brazil doubled its solar targets for both utility-scale and distributed generation in January.

Sao Paulo, May 23, 2016

Distributed generation connections grew by 308% in Brazil in 2015. This is according to the National Electric Energy Agency (ANEEL), Brazils top energy regulator, and these figures include micro-generation and mini-generation. The state of Minas Gerais has the most micro- and mini-generation systems with 333 connections, followed by Rio de Janeiro (203) and Rio Grande do Sul (186).

Brazil doubled its solar targets for both utility-scale and distributed generation in January. The 2024 target under the official 10-year energy plan (PDE) is for 7 GW of utility-scale solar and 1.32 GW of distributed PV installations. According to the Latin America PV Playbook of GTM Research, 1.4 GW of distributed PV could be achieved as early as 2020, especially given strong support for the segment in Brazil through the ProGD policy.

ProGD is a distributed generation development program for energy. It was launched by Brazils Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) and is aimed at encouraging even more consumers to generate their own power from renewable energy sources, with a particular emphasis on solar energy.

According to the MME, by 2030 roughly 2.7 million Brazilian consumers could have distributed generation installations either on private residences, in industrial setups or in the agricultural sector. This would be the equivalent of 23.5GW of clean energy production.

The National Energy Plan running until 2050 predicts that 18% of Brazilian homes will host PV systems by 2050. These installations are expected to generate around 45 terawatt-hours of energy and this would meet 13% of the countrys electricity demand.

Distributed generation (DG) could trigger investments worth more than BRL100 billion (US$25.6 billion) by 2030, according to the MME. Against this backdrop, DG is expected to become an attractive investment for homeowners, as well as manufacturers of PV modules and inverters. All of these stakeholders will be meeting at Intersolar South America in Sao Paulo in August, at the largest solar event in Latin America.

DG is a key feature of the Intersolar South America conference as well as the exhibition. On the first day of the event the conference will include talks from key stakeholders from the private and public sector. The primary topics of discussion will include the pros and cons of a regulated and an unregulated market as well as the main obstacles facing the Brazilian net-metering program, which includes taxation, grid connection procedures, and financing.

The number of newly installed DG plants in Brazil has reached record levels in recent years. This has mainly been driven by rising electricity prices, decreasing technology costs, and the new regulatory framework. The opportunities this has created have attracted a large number of new players to the market. This will also be addressed in a special session on financing DG, which will take place on Thursday, August 25. This session will focus on key challenges, given the scarcity of competitive or low-cost financing.

And who will install all the planned rooftop PV facilities? To examine this issue and explore the future potential of this important aspect of technology development, there will be technical workshops for installation experts in parallel to the main exhibition and conference.


About Intersolar

With events spanning four continents, Intersolar is the worlds leading exhibition series for the solar industry and its partners. It unites people and companies from around the world with the aim of increasing the share of solar power in our energy supply.

Intersolar South America is the largest exhibition and conference for the solar industry in South America. It takes place at the Expo Center Norte in São Paulo, Brazil.

The events exhibition and conference both focus on the areas of photovoltaics, PV production technologies, energy storage systems and solar thermal technologies. Since being founded, Intersolar has become the most important industry platform for manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, service providers and partners in the global solar industry.

115 exhibitors and more than 9,000 trade visitors attended Intersolar South America in 2015. 91 speakers and more than 817 attendees discussed current industry topics and shed light on the conditions surrounding technological, market and political developments at the accompanying conference.

With 25 years of experience, Intersolar has the unique ability to bring together members of the solar industry from across the worlds most influential markets. Intersolar exhibitions and conferences are held in Munich, San Francisco, Mumbai, São Paulo, and, starting in 2016, in Dubai. These global events are complemented by the Intersolar Summits, which take place in emerging and growing markets worldwide.

For more information on Intersolar South America, please visit: www.intersolar.net.br

Organizers: Intersolar South America is organized by Solar Promotion International GmbH, Pforzheim, Freiburg Management and Marketing International GmbH (FMMI) and Aranda Eventos & Congressos Ltda, São Paulo as the co-organizer.