Brazil expects 10.3 GW of new capacity in 2023, mainly wind and solar

January 23 (Renewables Now) - Brazil is expected to add 10.3 GW of new power generation capacity in 2023, with over 90% of that coming from centralised wind and solar, according to a forecast by Brazilian power sector regulator Aneel.

This would be the largest ever capacity expansion in a single year for the country since Aneel started tracking in 1997, the watchdog said.

Aneel expects 298 generation projects to enter commercial operation in 2023. Three Brazilian states -- Bahia, Rio Grande do Norte and Minas Gerais -- will host over 70% of the total capacity planned for this year. Minas Gerais is forecast to add 1.8 GW of centralised solar PV alone, which will boost the share of solar by over 80% in that state’s power mix, Aneel said.

In 2022, Brazil added roughly 8.5 GW of new capacity, with non-hydro renewables representing some 6.5 GW of that. It was the second-best year for Brazil in terms of annual capacity additions since Aneel started keeping records, coming behind 9.5 GW added in 2016.