Photovoltaic solar sources grew 22,5% in 2019, leading the growth in installed renewable energy capacity in the world, with an increase of 115 GW. This is what the international report Renewables Global Status Report, prepared by REN21, points out.
For ABSOLAR (Brazilian Association of Photovoltaic Solar Energy), which contributed to the technical review of the Brazilian data, Brazil had a large share in this growth. According to the research, the country led the expansion of photovoltaic solar energy in Latin America, adding 2,1 GW in the year and investing more than R$ 24 billion in 2019.
“The growth of photovoltaic solar energy in 2019 broke a new record and was the highest in the entire historical series. This demonstrates the enormous potential of the technology in the renewable expansion, diversification and decarbonization of electrical matrices around the world, especially in Brazil, a country with an immense solar resource”, highlights Rodrigo Sauaia, CEO of ABSOLAR.
Also according to ABSOLAR, in 2019, 650 MW were added to large-scale photovoltaic solar plants. The New Energy Auctions, held by the Federal Government, had photovoltaic solar as the most competitive source, ing average prices of US$ 17,62 (R$ 67,48) and US$ 20,33 (R$ 84,39) per MWh in auctions A-4 and A-6, respectively.
Small and medium-sized distributed generation solar systems, on the other hand, were the ones that grew the most in the year, adding 1,4 GW. “In recent years, distributed generation solar energy has been a strong driver of economic growth in Brazil, with many investments and jobs generated, in addition to the great contribution to making society increasingly sustainable and competitive”, highlights Ronaldo Koloszuk, Chairman of the Board of Directors of ABSOLAR.
“Solar photovoltaic was the source with the highest growth rate in the Brazilian electricity matrix in 2019, reaching an increase of 88%, compared to 7% for wind and 5% for hydroelectric. It was also the second source with the highest installed capacity added to the electrical matrix in the year, with 2,1 GW, behind only the hydroelectric plant, with the addition of 4,9 GW”, emphasizes Koloszuk.
Rise of renewable sources
The REN21 study also revealed that the global installed capacity of renewable energy grew by 200 GW in 2019, an increase of 12% compared to 2018, reaching 627 GW. The source that grew the most was solar photovoltaic, with an increase of 57,5% of this amount, followed by the wind source, with 60 GW and 30% share, and the hydroelectric source, with 18 GW and 8% share.
World ranking
On the international scene, China maintained global leadership in the advancement of renewable energy in the electrical matrix. Adding solar, wind, biomass and hydro sources, China reached 789 GW of accumulated installed capacity, followed by the United States, with 282 GW.
Brazil ranked third in the world rankings, with 144 GW in total installed capacity. In fourth place is India, with 137 GW, followed by , with 124 GW.
