Wind And Solar Supply Over One-Third Of Brazil’s Electricity For The First Time

Wind and solar power have reached a new milestone in Brazil by generating more than one-third of the country’s electricity in August, according to government data analyzed by energy think tank Ember. The two renewable sources together accounted for 34% of total electricity generation, producing a record 19 terawatt-hours, enough to power about 119 million Brazilian homes for a month. This was the first time wind and solar crossed that threshold, surpassing the previous high of 18.6 terawatt-hours set in September 2024.

The achievement comes as hydroelectric power, which has long dominated Brazil’s energy mix, fell to its lowest level in four years. In August, hydropower contributed just 48% of the country’s electricity, marking only the second month on record when it supplied less than half of total generation. Despite the decline, fossil fuel plants made up only 14% of the energy mix, producing 7.8 terawatt-hours. In earlier drought years, fossil fuel reliance had spiked to much higher levels, including 26% in August 2021. Ember noted that the rapid growth of wind and solar this year helped prevent a similar surge in fossil fuel use.

The share of wind and solar in Brazil’s energy mix has been rising steadily. In 2019, solar accounted for just over 1% of generation but reached 9.6% in 2024, while wind rose from 8.8% to 15% over the same period. Together, they generated 24% of Brazil’s electricity in 2024, more than double their share five years earlier. Ember said this expansion helped reduce power sector emissions, which peaked in 2014. By 2024, emissions had fallen 31% even as electricity demand rose 22%. The think tank credited the fifteenfold increase in wind and solar output with offsetting demand growth and cutting fossil fuel generation by 45%.

Experts highlighted both progress and challenges. Raul Miranda of Ember said Brazil is demonstrating how a growing economy can meet rising electricity demand with renewable sources, noting that solar and wind complement hydropower by easing pressure during drought years. Ricardo Baitelo of the Institute for Energy and the Environment said the record reflects more than a decade of capacity growth, especially in solar. He stressed that Brazil is moving from a hydro-dominated system to one balanced across hydro, solar, and wind, and is the only G20 nation currently on track to meet renewable expansion targets set at COP28.

At the same time, concerns were raised about reliance on subsidies and potential expansion of fossil fuels. Paulo Pedrosa of Abrace Energia argued that subsidy-driven growth has raised costs and increased dependence on expensive thermal energy for balancing. Baitelo also warned that without reforms, fossil fuel interests could exploit the system, undermining Brazil’s progress in renewable energy.