The Brazilian electricity sector recorded advances in 2024, driven by the expansion of renewable sources, the growth of DG (distributed generation) and improvements in the infrastructure of transmission lines.
This is what data from Brazilian Electric System Monitoring Bulletin – Special Edition, published by the MME (Ministry of Mines and Energy) this Wednesday (21).
According to the survey, the country added 10,8 GW in the centralized generation segment, with emphasis on renewable sources such as solar and wind, which ed for 97% of the annual expansion. The volume represents an increase of 5% compared to 2023.
Most of these projects were made possible in ACL (Free Contracting Environment), demonstrating the growing activity of investors in the energy market outside the regulated environment.
By the end of 2024, Brazil reached a total installed capacity of 243,9 GW, 87,1% of which came from renewable sources, such as hydroelectric, wind, solar and biomass.
Distributed Generation in expansion
Distributed generation, driven mainly by solar systems on rooftops and small properties, sured the 35 GW mark of installed power. In 2024 alone, the segment grew 35,6%, adding around 9 GW to the national electricity grid.
Today, this modality already represents 14,4% of the country's total power, and is considered one of the main growth fronts in the sector, with incentives from measures such as the inclusion of mini-generators in REIDI (Special Incentive Regime for Infrastructure Development).
Expansion of transmission networks
The SIN (National Interconnected System) closed the year with 189.308 km of transmission lines and 472.983 MVA in installed transformation capacity – an increase in 2024 of 4.100 km in new lines and more than 20 thousand MVA in substations.
To make this expansion possible, the year was marked by transmission auctions. In March, the country held the second largest auction in its history, contracting 6.464 km of lines and 9.200 MVA in new substations. In September, a second auction secured another 783 km of lines and 1.000 MVA in capacity.
Consumption and access overview
The document published by the MME also points out that the total production of electrical energy in the country reached 687.692 GWh in 2024, of which 91% was generated by renewable sources.
Hydroelectric plants alone ed for 60,9% of production, even though they represent around 45% of installed capacity — demonstrating high capacity factors and continuous use.
Electricity consumption, excluding losses, was 560.102 GWh. The largest increases came from the residential, commercial and industrial classes, reflecting the economic recovery and the growing electrification of production processes.
The bulletin also highlights that there was an improvement in the continuity of electricity supply indices in the country, with a reduction in the average duration and frequency of interruptions.
In the field of universalization, more than 60 thousand families from remote or vulnerable areas now have access to electricity through social programs, such as Mais Luz para Amazônia, benefiting around 241 thousand people.
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