In the last five years, Brazil has increased its solar photovoltaic energy generating capacity by almost 6-fold. In 2020, the country’s installed solar PV capacity stood at 8.5 gigawatts. By October 2024, this had grown to almost 50 gigawatts. The Brazilian solar sector is experiencing a rapid expansion, with
amounting to more than 138 gigawatts as of December 2023. Of these, almost 120 gigawatts were in the construction and pre-construction stages.
Distributed installations drive solar growth
Brazil’s solar sector is mainly driven by small-scale installations. Since 2020, this segment has accounted for roughly 70
percent of the installed capacity, changing the trend from previous years, when the centralized market represented the largest share of the installed capacity. Furthermore,
residential installations dominate the distributed solar industry in Brazil, with some 3.8 gigawatts added in 2023. The commercial and rural segments also constitute an important part of distributed solar, with new installations increasing significantly in recent years.
The role of solar in Brazil’s electricity mix
In total, electricity generation from solar photovoltaics in Brazil amounted to more than 50 terawatt hours in 2023, accounting for roughly 7.25
percent of Brazil's overall power production. Although solar energy is the third largest source of renewable electricity in the country, after hydropower and wind, it is currently the fastest-growing technology. In the past few years, solar has accounted for most of
Brazil's renewable energy capacity additions. Regionally, the state of Minas Gerais was by far the
largest solar energy producer, with a total of 11.4 terawatt hours generated in 2023.
Brazil’s solar future
Brazil has set a target of 31 gigawatts of solar energy installed by 2030, as per their Ten-Year Energy Expansion Plan. Looking at the nation's recent developments in the sector, this capacity will be greatly surpassed. In the next years, Brazil is expected to become the fifth
leading country in terms of solar PV capacity worldwide. Between 2024 and 2028, the Latin American country is forecast to install between 59 and 109 gigawatts of new solar capacity.
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