Brazil roundup: Power consumption, generation update

Power consumption up 6.8%

Brazil consumed 71,317MWa (average megawatts) of energy in the first half of 2024, up 6.8% from the same period of last year, according to electricity trading chamber CCEE. 

The increase was driven by the impact of more intense use of air-conditioning equipment on hotter days and the performance of the 15 areas of economic activity monitored by the CCEE and which buy their energy on the free market. 

The regulated environment reported consumption of 44,551MWa, up 5.3% from the first half of last year, while the free market used 26,760MWa, 9.5% more year-on-year.

Positive renewable generation performance

According to the CCEE, the first half of the year saw a good performance in renewable energy generation. 

Hydroelectric plants, which are the country's main power source, delivered more than 54,000MWa to the grid, 2.4% more than in the same period last year. 

Wind, solar and biomass plants, which produced more year-on-year, together generated over 15,000MWa.

Installed power grows

According to the mines and energy ministry MME, the first half of 2024 saw a 5.7GW increase of installed power in the Brazilian electricity matrix, and the country's target for growth in electricity generation this year is 10.1GW.

Wind power record

On July 27, at 9:09 p.m., the northeast region broke the first record for instantaneous wind power generation of the year. According to national grid operator ONS, generation in the subsystem reached 19,028MW, equivalent to 153% of the submarket's demand at that time.

Green electricity rate flag

Brazil's electric power watchdog Aneel has announced that the electricity rate flag will be green in August. As a result, consumers' electricity bills will not incur any extra costs next month.

After the yellow flag in July, the rate flag will once again be green due to the favorable conditions for electricity generation in the country.