Brazil Reaches 29.3 GW of Installed Distributed Solar Capacity, with Ten States Surpassing 1 GW Mark

Distributed solar generation in Brazil has reached a milestone of 29.3 GW of installed capacity, with ten states now exceeding the 1 GW threshold. Mato Grosso do Sul recently joined this list, accumulating 1,163 MW, up from 992 MW at the end of 2023, according to data from the National Electric Energy Agency (Aneel).

São Paulo Leads with Over 4 GW

São Paulo stands out as the only state to surpass the 4 GW mark in installed capacity, achieved through more than 428,000 systems. Throughout 2023, Minas Gerais and São Paulo alternated in leading distributed solar generation. The latest figures from Aneel reveal that by the end of 2023, Minas Gerais led with 3,592 MW, narrowly ahead of São Paulo’s 3,583 MW, highlighting the intense competition between the two states.

Northeast Representation and Regional Distribution

Among the top ten states for distributed generation capacity, Bahia is the sole representative from the Northeast region, boasting 1,291 MW of installed capacity. While ten states have surpassed 1 GW, only four have exceeded 2 GW. This includes Rio Grande do Sul, where numerous systems were damaged by severe floods in May.

Concentration of Distributed Generation Capacity

The distribution of capacity remains concentrated among a few states. By mid-2023, the top five states—São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Rio Grande do Sul, Paraná, and Santa Catarina—accounted for half of Brazil’s installed solar distributed generation (DG) capacity, totaling 11 GW out of 22 GW. Currently, the leading five states, now including Mato Grosso which replaced Santa Catarina in fifth place, collectively hold 15 GW of the total 29 GW capacity.

This significant growth in distributed solar generation capacity underscores Brazil’s increasing commitment to renewable energy and highlights the regional variations in solar adoption across the country.