The ONS (National Electric System Operator) released, last Friday (27), the results of the Executive Summary of the Medium-Term Electric Operation Plan of the National Interconnected System – PAR/PEL 2024 for the period 2025 to 2029.
The set of works indicated in the 2025-2029 cycle includes approximately 1.260 km of new transmission lines, in addition to 14.750 MVA of new transformers in new and existing substations. The estimated investments for these works are R$7,6 billion, of which R$5,8 billion are new projects.
The expansion of exchange limits between subsystems is one of the points highlighted in the study. The export capacity from the North/Northeast regions to the Southeast/Central-West regions, during the system's peak period, could increase by 30% by the end of 2029, rising from 15.600 MW, estimated for January 2025, to 20.500 MW.
Export capacity from the Southeast/Central-West to the South is expected to increase by around 20% over the same period: from 10.500 MW (January 2025) to 12.500 MW (December 2029). The increase in exchange capacity is a positive factor for greater use of non-hydro renewable generation available in the Northeast region.
The PAR/PEL 2024 Executive Summary also addresses one of the main transformations in the planning and operation of the SIN: the increased participation of MMGD (micro and mini distributed generation).
MMGD's installed capacity will sur the 2024 GW mark in 33 and is projected to reach over 49 GW in 2029, which will consolidate it as the second largest source of generation in the country. The expansion of MMGD imposes considerable challenges on the operation of the electrical system, including the need for greater operational flexibility, management of constraints in the transmission network and for the dynamic performance of the system.
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Impact of MMGD
The document also highlights the impact of MMGD on the SIN net load curve, on the loading of boundary transformations and the associated challenges. The study points out the number of substations that present the possibility of reverse flow of active power.
One of the main conclusions in this scenario of expansion of generation directly connected to the distribution networks is the need for distributors to take on a more active role, acting as distribution system operators (DSOs) and in a coordinated manner with the ONS. This role is essential to ensure the efficiency and safety of the SIN operation in a context of increasing decentralization of generation resources.
The main figures presented indicate that the forecast for maximum load demand for the SIN, in 2029, is 120 GW, an increase of 12% compared to that seen in 2024. The installed generation capacity should reach, in December 2028, 251,6 GW, of which 57,6 GW refer to centralized wind and solar photovoltaic plants.
The prospect of accelerated energy demand, driven by the expansion of segments such as green hydrogen and data centers, brings challenges for SEB, as well as opportunities. The profile of the national electricity matrix, with around 90% of its energy generated by renewable sources, has made the country attractive for the installation of data center projects used in Artificial Intelligence services, for example.
The projects present a constant and high consumption profile at all times and days, and investors have expressed interest in connecting to the system in the PAR/PEL 2024 horizon.
The study provides, in a preliminary manner, a list of actions necessary to meet the initial integration demands, highlighting the need for improvements throughout the process of connecting large blocks of cargo, to the safety and efficiency of the system in the face of the rapid transformations underway.
About PAR/PEL
The SIN Medium-Term Electrical Operation Plan – PAR/PEL aims to evaluate the SIN's performance, over a five-year horizon, so that future operations are carried out with adequate levels of safety, in compliance with the reliability criteria established in the Grid Procedures.
According to the ONS, the plan contains the indications of works necessary to fully meet demand, integrate new generating plants and ensure the operation of the electricity sector in the medium term. The Executive Summary of PAR/PEL 2024 is available on the ONS website, in the section “Energy in the Future – Electric Supply”.
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