Installed power in Brazil in 2021 expands 57% beyond the target

Brazil had an increase of 7,562.08 MW in installed power from projects that began operating in the electricity matrix in 2021, which represents two UHE Jirau, the fourth largest hydroelectric plant in the country with 3,750 MW. The result exceeds the sector's expectations by 57.8%, when the target of 4,790.4 MW was established.

Check in the infographic below, produced by Aneel, the expansion data of the Brazilian electricity matrix in 2021.

The wind sector had the main highlight with the largest expansion of energy generation recorded in history. Wind power plants accounted for 3,694.32 MW of installed power, that is, 48.85% of the total installed capacity, while it accounts for 11.46% of the Brazilian energy matrix with 20.8GW of installed power. In contrast, hydroelectric generation had its performance hampered by the worst water shortage in 91 years.

The thermoelectric plants accounted for an expansion of 2,449.69 MW (32.39%) and the photovoltaic solar plants, of 1,299.46 MW (17.18%). Small hydroelectric plants (SHPs) added 114.14 MW to the matrix, 1.51% of the year's total. Generation plants were inaugurated or reopened in 20 states of the five regions of the country in 2021. The states with the greatest increase were:

• Bahia (1.532,38 MW);
• Rio Grande do Norte (1.505,69 MW);
• Rio de Janeiro (1.338,30 MW).

The best months

September was the month with the greatest expansion in installed capacity (1,338.30 MW), due to the start of commercial operations at UTE GNA 1 (RJ), the second largest thermoelectric plant in the country. December was the second in increase and obtained the release of 1,122 MW, and the plants released for commercial operation have a particularity: none of them is related to regulated commercialization contracts (ACR).