Brazil hits 40 GW milestone
Solar accounted for 17.4% of Brazil’s electricity mix last week. PV systems up to 75 kW in size represent around 50% of the total capacity.
PV and prices, the fast uptake of solar in Brazil
In a new monthly column for pv magazine, the International Solar Energy Society (ISES) reports that Brazil currently has more than 85% renewable electricity, mainly hydropower, but with rapidly growing shares of solar and wind power. With 2.3 million rooftop PV systems installed so far and more than 90 million consumer units still available to go solar, favourable energy policies and cheap PV are encouraging the fast uptake of solar in the country.
Brazil’s solar panel imports hit 17.5 GW in 2023
PV module imports fell by 1% year on year in Brazil in 2023, according to a new report from solar consultancy Greener.
Brazil’s PV capacity surpasses 38 GW
Brazil has pushed past 38 GW of total installed PV capacity, with around 26.3 GW consisting of distributed-generation solar systems.
Sao Paulo inaugurates 7 MW floating solar plant
The government of Sao Paulo, Brazil, says that a new 7 MW floating solar project on a reservoir in the megalopolis is the first phase of a 75 MW facility that will be completed in 2025.
Valmont Solar opens mounting system factory in Brazil
Valmont Solar says its new production facility boasts the largest tracker control system manufacturing unit in Brazil and will create more than 300 new jobs. The solar tracker specialist says the factory will serve as a vital supply hub for the Latin American market.
Weekend Read: Temper tantrum
Reports of broken module glass with no obvious cause have begun to crop up at large PV projects. Module design, glass manufacturing, and interactions in the field between modules and trackers are at play and a clear solution has yet to emerge. Early signs suggest an update to certification standards may be needed.
Intelbras unveils 48 V/100 Ah residential battery
Brazilian conglomerate Intelbras says its new storage solution consists of one or more batteries that can be connected in parallel, with up to 10 units. It reportedly has a useful lifespan of more than eight years.
Competition heats up
Oversupply is hitting some solar manufacturers hard but grid constraints and labor shortages are unlikely to hold the solar industry back in 2024.
Brazil set to install 9.3 GW of solar in 2024, says Absolar
New figures from Absolar, a Brazilian PV trade group, show that the country could install 9.3 GW of solar in 2024, bringing it to 45.5 GW of installed PV capacity by the end of next year.
