Armazenamento de energia: setor quer portaria e leilão em 2025, diz Absae | Fechamento de Mercado

Summary

This interview explores Brazil's upcoming energy storage auctions, focusing on the importance of batteries in utilizing renewable energy sources like wind and solar. Marcos Vlit, president of the Brazilian Association for Energy Storage Solutions, explains how energy storage can address issues like energy waste and distribution inefficiencies, while reducing costs and environmental impact. The conversation emphasizes the need for auctions that prioritize battery systems over traditional fossil-fuel-based solutions, highlighting their flexibility, safety, and potential for long-term sustainability in Brazil’s energy future.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Brazilian government plans to hold an energy auction in 2025 focused on contracting battery storage systems for wind and solar energy generation.
• 😀 Energy storage technologies, especially batteries, are gaining attention worldwide, but Brazil's market is still relatively small.
• 😀 The primary benefit of battery storage is to prevent the waste of renewable energy (wind and solar) by storing it for later use, especially during night-time demand peaks.
• 😀 Brazil is currently wasting around 30-35 GW of renewable energy, and this is expected to increase to 50 GW in the near future due to mismatched generation and consumption timings.
• 😀 The introduction of battery storage aims to address the energy mismatch by allowing the use of renewable energy during hours of high demand, like at night.
• 😀 The Brazilian government has been holding capacity reserve auctions to contract thermal plants (such as gas-fired plants), but these have environmental impacts and are expensive.
• 😀 Battery storage offers a cleaner, cheaper alternative, reducing reliance on thermal power plants and helping to stabilize energy costs for consumers.
• 😀 Battery storage systems are safe, especially those using lithium iron phosphate technology, which has a stable thermal profile and low risk of incidents.
• 😀 The technology behind energy storage is rapidly improving, with battery prices falling by over 90% in recent years due to advances in production efficiency and scale.
• 😀 In 2025, Brazil is expected to contract 2 GW of battery storage, with plans to hold similar auctions in the future to progressively build the country’s storage capacity.
• 😀 The future may see the use of smaller battery systems in homes and businesses to contribute to grid stability, with potential benefits for both individual consumers and the overall energy system.

Q & A

What is the focus of the upcoming energy auctions in Brazil?

The upcoming energy auctions in Brazil, specifically in June 2025, aim to contract batteries and storage systems for wind and solar power plants. These auctions are seen as a key step in addressing the issue of energy storage for renewable energy generation.

Why are battery storage systems important for Brazil's energy sector?

Battery storage systems are important because they allow Brazil to store renewable energy, such as wind and solar power, which is often wasted due to mismatches in energy generation and consumption times. Storing this energy enables its use during peak demand, especially at night.

What is the current state of renewable energy generation in Brazil?

Brazil is experiencing significant growth in renewable energy generation, with wind and solar power now contributing around 35% of the total energy mix, and the goal is to reach 50%. However, a substantial portion of this generation is wasted due to storage and transmission limitations.

How much renewable energy is wasted in Brazil, and what is the cause?

Currently, Brazil wastes around 30-35 GW of renewable energy, particularly from wind and solar. This waste occurs due to issues with energy storage, transmission bottlenecks, and the timing of energy generation, with renewable sources generating energy during times of low demand.

What role do thermal power plants play in Brazil's energy system, and what are the challenges associated with them?

Thermal power plants are used as backup sources during periods of high demand, but they are expensive and environmentally harmful due to the burning of fossil fuels. The government has been relying on these plants, but the country is now looking for more sustainable and cost-effective alternatives like battery storage systems.

How can batteries help address Brazil's energy storage challenges?

Batteries can store renewable energy generated during the day and release it during periods of high demand, particularly at night. This not only reduces the reliance on costly and polluting thermal plants but also ensures more efficient use of renewable energy, reducing waste and improving energy grid flexibility.

What are the financial advantages of using batteries over thermal plants?

The cost of using batteries for energy storage is significantly lower compared to thermal plants. While thermal plants cost around 5-6 billion reais per year for 1 GW of capacity, using batteries for the same capacity would only cost about 1.5 billion reais due to the absence of fuel costs, making it a more affordable and sustainable solution.

What is the primary request from the energy storage sector regarding the 2025 auction?

The primary request from the energy storage sector is for the Ministry of Mines and Energy to publish the guidelines for the auction and to ensure it takes place in 2025. The sector also hopes for the auction to contract at least 2 GW of battery capacity to make a meaningful impact on energy storage.

What is the role of batteries in residential and small-scale applications?

Batteries can be used in smaller applications, such as residential homes and businesses, to store energy generated by solar panels or other renewable sources. This helps reduce energy bills and supports the stability of the grid by providing backup power during peak demand periods.

How safe are large-scale battery storage systems, and where would they be installed?

Large-scale battery storage systems are considered safe due to their use of stable lithium iron phosphate batteries, which are different from those used in cell phones and electric vehicles. These systems are equipped with several layers of safety, including fire prevention mechanisms. They would be installed close to renewable generation sites or near major consumption centers to optimize energy storage and distribution.