Renewables to grow in Brazil, but grid a challenge, GlobalData says

Renewable energy sources in Brazil are expected to grow significantly over the years to 2030 but will also face challenges in the form of low power demand growth and insufficient grid coverage, GlobalData said on Monday.

By the end of 2030 solar and wind, together with biopower, are forecast to account for almost 30% of the country's cumulative installed capacity, while the contribution of hydropower is to decline to 50% from the current 63.5%. In 2017, Brazil's total installed power capacity was 158 GW, according to GlobalData's Brazil Power Market Outlook to 2030, Update 2018 report.

The firm says that in response to a threat of declining hydropower generation due to droughts, the Brazilian government prefers to promote non-hydro renewables rather than thermal power resources. In 2017, the country's wind capacity reached almost 15 GW, while solar amounted to 1.1 GW and is expected to hit 19 GW by the end of 2030.

Ankit Mathur, head of power at GlobalData, said that Brazil lacks robust grid infrastructure, with T&D losses estimated to average 17% of total generation and certain parts of the country seeing around 20% of electricity lost to theft. "The Brazilian government therefore needs to focus on improving its grid infrastructure as much as it is focusing on capacity expansion," Mathur added.

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