Brazil retreats from solar auctions

April 16, 2012
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Reddit
Email

Despite our reports in March and earlier this month, the Brazilian Secretary of Energy Planning and Development of the Ministry of Mines and Energy, Altino Ventura Filho, has announced that solar energy will not form part of auctions in order to augment generation of solar power.

Auctions are already in place for wind power, but the Brazilian government had proposed to implement new regulations to make solar PV a more viable option for electricity generation in the country. The argument for going back on this decision has been attributed to claims that the price of solar is too high. In previous auctions, the government alleges that solar power cost on average €150, whereas wind energy is around €76.

This article requires Premium SubscriptionBasic (FREE) Subscription

Try Premium for just $1

  • Full premium access for the first month at only $1
  • Converts to an annual rate after 30 days unless cancelled
  • Cancel anytime during the trial period

Premium Benefits

  • Expert industry analysis and interviews
  • Digital access to PV Tech Power journal
  • Exclusive event discounts

Or get the full Premium subscription right away

Or continue reading this article for free

The minister suggested that foreign investors have calculated a 15 – 20% annual drop in price in five years time, when solar energy would become more competitive and would be able to stand up against other renewables such as wind power, which is fairly established in the country.

The government states that low demand for solar power means there is no urgency to develop it presently and offers more time for evaluation.

Read Next

January 29, 2026
A Korean-led consortium including Hyundai Engineering has started construction at a 350MW solar PV plant in Dallas, Texas.
January 29, 2026
A new trade association, Californians for Local, Affordable Solar and Storage (CLASS) has started work to improve access to community solar.
January 29, 2026
Renewables-specific M&A platforms offer project buyers and sellers transparency and efficiency in Europe’s increasingly selective deal environment, writes Ksenia Dray.
January 29, 2026
Clean energy pricing in Europe and America is set for a decisive adjustment in 2026 as record deployment levels collide with heightened market volatility and policy headwinds.
January 29, 2026
The Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) has announced that renewable energy sources supplied more than half of the quarterly energy demand in the National Electricity Market (NEM) for the first time.
January 29, 2026
Australian data centre startup WinDC has announced a strategic partnership with Megaport that will connect its renewables-powered AI factories to Megaport's global Network-as-a-Service platform.

Upcoming Events

Solar Media Events
February 3, 2026
London, UK
Upcoming Webinars
February 18, 2026
9am PST / 5pm GMT
Solar Media Events
March 24, 2026
Dallas, Texas
Solar Media Events
April 15, 2026
Milan, Italy
Solar Media Events
June 16, 2026
Napa, USA