Country briefing: Brazil

Brazil generates most of its electricity from clean sources, 91% in 2023. Hydropower dominates the mix (60%).

Wind and solar deployment is already underway, positioning the country at the forefront of wind energy in the region. Wind and solar contributed to 21% of the power mix in 2023, well above the global average (13%)

While only 9% of Brazil’s power supply came from fossil fuels in 2023, it fluctuates annually due to hydro availability.

Despite having one of the cleanest power systems in the world, an increase in wind and solar power can reduce its vulnerability to droughts, while meeting growing electricity demand –in 2023, annual electricity demand grew by 5%

To decarbonise other sectors, Brazil must increase its electrification levels, which is currently below 20%. This will require greater deployment of wind and solar.

Key findings

Although Brazil does not need to triple renewables to stay on the 1.5°C pathway, our analysis suggests that solar capacity would need to triple and wind capacity double by 2030 compared to 2022 levels to meet growing demand.

Brazil's current wind and solar rollout broadly aligns with the 1.5ºC compatible benchmarks set out in this report.

To stay aligned with the 1.5ºC target, Brazil must maintain at least the same pace of annual wind and solar capacity additions over the remainder of this decade as in recent years.

It is essential that Brazil avoids deploying new fossil fuel capacity. A dash for fossil gas in the power sector is an economic and climate risk that can, and should, be avoided.

Our modelling envisages that wind will generate more electricity than solar in next decades in a 1.5ºC compatible transition, in line with country-level studies and developments in the last decade.