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Brazil's grid caps power from wind and solar, threatening sustainable jobs

Wind and solar energy producers in Brazil have actually warned they are reassessing future investments there after the national grid operator repeatedly capped just how much energy they might provide in the previous year, which squeezed their earnings.

Brazil has made big strides motivating companies to buy wind, solar and other eco-friendly power generation sources, providing generous financing and aids. However all the electrical energy they produce has taxed the grid.

More than a dozen executives and industry agents stated renewable energy financial investments were less viable under the National Electric System Operator's (ONS). existing curtailments policy, which temporarily caps just how much. power ONS accepts from wind and solar plants.

The pressure has actually been most intense in northeast Brazil, a hot. area for renewable resource financial investment. There are bottlenecks in. transmission lines carrying electrical power to Sao Paulo, Rio de. Janeiro and in other places in the more populated southeast area.

ONS has actually managed the grid more very carefully considering that August 2023,. when a power failure in the northeast spread over the majority of the. country. That has suggested more curtailments when electrical energy. generation exceeds intake or there is a lack of. transmission capacity.

ONS has said curtailments were not extreme, and were. essential for safety. The operator stated its data shows just 3%. of electrical power created was lost to curtailments last month. Volt Robotics, a power sector consultancy, analyzed ONS numbers.

The Brazilian Wind Energy Association, ABEEolica, estimated. the sector had actually lost some 700 million reais ($ 128 million) in the. past year. The Brazilian Solar Association, Absolar, estimated a. loss of 50 million reais in the 4 months through July.

Renewable energy for the country is going to waste, stated. Eduardo Sattamini, president of Engie Brasil. Energia, which has been affected.

The Serra do Mel II B complex in the northeast state of Rio. Grande do Norte, owned by Equatorial Energia, was hit. hardest amongst wind generators, they discovered. In between January and. early August, 58% of power created was declined by the grid.

Equatorial's renewables system Echoenergia stated in a declaration. the curtailments had actually injured its operations and translated into. greater risk prices by investors, which could cut brand-new. investments. This is not an environment for decision-making about new. projects, the company said.

Chinese generator SPIC's Banabuiu complex in seaside Ceara. state was the worst hit among solar generators, Volt Robotics. stated, losing 50% of electricity created between January and. early August.

Adriana Waltrick, president of SPIC Brasil, said it. was vital to resolve the grid difficulties, which could. increase future energy costs and impact the competitiveness of. the renewable resource sector in Brazil.

Losses can be intensified since generators often must buy. electricity at market rates to honor agreements with suppliers. and customers.

Voltalia, a renewable resource producer with almost. 2 thirds of its capability in Brazil, expects curtailments to. shave some 40 million euros ($ 44.48 million) from its revenues. before interest, tax, devaluation and amortization this year.

CPFL Energia, a power company controlled by China's State. Grid, also highlighted the concern in second quarter results,. flagging losses of 21 million reais.

Some business have actually looked for payment in court for the. losses sustained by ONS failures. Those legal fights might take. years.

Using some relief, the federal government has actually held. auctions for personal business to construct transmission lines, however. a lot of those jobs are years far from conclusion.

Christiano Vieira, director of operations at ONS, stated more. electricity from the northeast will begin flowing into the. nationwide grid in September, when a brand-new transmission line will. begin operating, which might help reduce curtailments.

(source: Reuters)