Brazil to Dominate Latin America’s Wind Power Market in 2018

Latin American wind has grown swiftly in recent years to almost 20 GW by August 2017, with 80 percent of installed capacity in Brazil and Mexico.

Senior analyst for Latin America at MAKE Consulting, Brian Gaylord told Renewable Energy World that MAKE expects Latin America to rebound next year, with 4 GW of new wind power capacity.

ANEEL Releases New Rules for Small Hydropower Operators in Brazil

In an effort to streamline the permitting process, ANEEL (Agencia Nacional de Energia Eletrica) has published new rules governing operators of small hydropower plants in Brazil.

According to BNamericas, the resolution includes a requirement for developers to complete “generation adequacy studies” prior to the environmental licensing process.

Normative Resolution No. 765/2017 defines the procedures for issuing the grants for implementation and operation of these enterprises, ANEEL says. The changes affect developers of hydro plants with capacities of 5 MW to 50 MW.

Official figures show 203 MW of small hydro capacity was brought on line in Brazil in 2016. Small hydro makes up about 3 percent of the country’s generation mix, totaling 4.989 GW of capacity from 426 plants.

Hydropower of all sizes makes up more than 80 percent of the Brazilian energy matrix as of March 2017.

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Policies Driving Renewable Energy Growth in Latin America

Buoyed by rapid technology cost reductions and the consolidation of renewable energy policies, Latin America hosts some of the world’s most dynamic renewable energy markets, according to a new report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Renewable Energy Market Analysis: Latin America finds that the region – endowed with some of the world’s best renewable resources – has an unprecedented opportunity to accelerate the uptake of renewables across all sectors.

Brazil's Paraiba Passes Renewables Support Bill

Brazil's Paraiba state Committee on Constitution, Justice (CCJ) approved on Wednesday a bill project for the state renewable sector.

The bill establishes the Wind and Solar Incentive of Generation and Energy Utilization State Policy. The proposal aims to promote investments into solar and wind power generation capacity and boost the technological development of photovoltaic (PV) and thermal-solar energy self-consumption systems.

Brazil Looks to Wind; French Cook up a New Energy Future

While the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil has dribbled and tackled its way through its goal-rich group phase, the country’s power sector has been stuck in crisis mode.

Low rainfall and therefore depressed production from hydropower has led to a high dependence on the spot market for thermal power. However, renewable energy developers have had reason to celebrate with wind a big winner of an auction in early June on top of having walked away with a record amount of contracted capacity in 2013.