Electricity in Brazil - statistics & facts
In 1979, Brazil's first hydropower plant was inaugurated in the state of Minas Gerais. Since then, the South American country went on to become one of the leading hydropower producers worldwide. Nevertheless, in line with global trends, solar and wind power have been gaining traction in Brazil’s electricity sector.
The sector’s relative independence from fossil fuels stems from the resourceful use of Brazil’s abundant water resources. In fact, hydropower accounted for roughly two thirds of the national electricity generation in 2022. The Itaipu Dam, a binational investment located on the border between Brazil and Paraguay, is the second largest hydroelectric dam in the world based on generation capacity, only behind the Three Gorges Dam in China.
A historical dependence on hydropower
Brazil is the largest electricity producer in Latin America, with more than 677 terawatt-hours generated in 2022 – almost double that of runner-up Mexico. For several years now, approximately 80 percent of the electricity generation in the country originated from renewable sources, making the Brazilian electricity industry one of the cleanest in the world.The sector’s relative independence from fossil fuels stems from the resourceful use of Brazil’s abundant water resources. In fact, hydropower accounted for roughly two thirds of the national electricity generation in 2022. The Itaipu Dam, a binational investment located on the border between Brazil and Paraguay, is the second largest hydroelectric dam in the world based on generation capacity, only behind the Three Gorges Dam in China.
