Electricity sector in Brazil

Further information: Rede Energia

Electricity sector of Brazil
Data
Electricity coverage (2016)97% (total), (LAC total average in 2005: 92%)
Installed capacity (2024)230,079 MW[1]
Share of fossil energy12.8%[1]
Share of renewable energy86.4%[1]
GHG emissions from electricity generation (2003)20 MtCO2
Average electricity use (2007)2,166 kWh per capita (USA: 12,300 kWh per capita)
Distribution losses (2005)14%
Consumption by sector
(% of total)
Residential34% (2006)
Industrial25% (2006)
Commercial22% (2006)
Public sector13% (2006)
Rural6% (2006)
Tariffs and financing
Average residential tariff
(US$/kW·h, 2007)		0.153; (LAC average in 2005: 0.115)
Average industrial tariff
(US$/kW·h, 2005)		0.113; (LAC average in 2005: 0.107)
Average commercial tariff
(US$/kW·h, June 2005)		0.142
Services
Sector unbundlingYes
Share of private sector in generation10%
Competitive supply to large usersYes
Competitive supply to residential usersNo
Institutions
No. of service providers6 main (generation), 5 main (transmission), 49 (distribution)
Responsibility for regulationANEEL-Electricity Regulatory Agency
Responsibility for policy-settingMinistry of Mines and Energy
Responsibility for the environmentMinistry of the Environment
Electricity sector lawYes (2004)
Renewable energy lawNo
CDM transactions related to the electricity sector91 registered CDM project; 9,034,000 tCO2e annual emissions reductions

Brazil has the largest electricity sector in Latin America. Its capacity at the end of 2021 was 181,532 MW.[2] The installed capacity grew from 11,000 MW in 1970 with an average yearly growth of 5.8% per year.[3] Brazil has the largest capacity for water storage in the world,[4] being dependent on hydroelectricity generation capacity, which meets over 60% of its electricity demand. The national grid runs at 60 Hz and is powered 83% from renewable sources. This dependence on hydropower makes Brazil vulnerable to power supply shortages in drought years, as was demonstrated by the 2001–2002 energy crisis.[5]

In 2023, the output of Brazil's electricity system, serving over 88 million consumers, exceeded that of all other South American nations combined. Anticipated investments surpassing $100 billion by 2029 aim to expand utility-scale and distributed generation, alongside transmission and distribution projects.[6]

The National Interconnected System (SIN) comprises the electricity companies in the South, South-East, Center-West, North-East and part of the North region. Only 3.4% of the country's electricity production is located outside the SIN, in small isolated systems located mainly in the Amazonian region.[7]

  1. ^ a b c "Infográfico". ABSOLAR (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 24 May 2024.
  2. ^ https://antigo.aneel.gov.br/web/guest/sala-de-imprensa-exibicao-2/-/asset_publisher/zXQREz8EVlZ6/content/brasil-termina-2021-com-maior-acrescimo-em-potencia-instalada-desde-2016/656877?inheritRedirect=false&redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fantigo.aneel.gov.br%2Fweb%2Fguest%2Fsala-de-imprensa-exibicao-2%3Fp_p_id%3D101_INSTANCE_zXQREz8EVlZ6%26p_p_lifecycle%3D0%26p_p_state%3Dnormal%26p_p_mode%3Dview%26p_p_col_id%3Dcolumn-2%26p_p_col_pos%3D2%26p_p_col_count%3D3%26_101_INSTANCE_zXQREz8EVlZ6_advancedSearch%3Dfalse%26_101_INSTANCE_zXQREz8EVlZ6_keywords%3D%26_101_INSTANCE_zXQREz8EVlZ6_delta%3D15%26p_r_p_564233524_resetCur%3Dfalse%26_101_INSTANCE_zXQREz8EVlZ6_cur%3D5%26_101_INSTANCE_zXQREz8EVlZ6_andOperator%3Dtrue National Agency of Energy
  3. ^ Pottmaier, D.; Melo, C. R.; Sartor, M. N.; Kuester, S.; Amadio, T. M.; Fernandes, C. A. H.; Marinha, D.; Alarcon, O. E. (1 March 2013). "The Brazilian energy matrix: From a materials science and engineering perspective". Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 19: 678–691. doi:10.1016/j.rser.2012.11.063. ISSN 1364-0321.
  4. ^ OECD
  5. ^ World Bank 2007
  6. ^ "Brazil - Renewable Energy Infrastructure". International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce. 4 December 2023.
  7. ^ National System Operator (ONS)