Brazil stands as a commendable example in the world of electricity generation, deriving almost 89% of its electricity from low-carbon sources. This remarkable achievement, spanning from May 2024 to April 2025, speaks volumes about the nation's commitment to sustainable energy practices. More than half of Brazil's electricity, about 55%, is generated from hydropower, making it the backbone of the country's clean electricity mix. Wind power contributes around 15%, and solar energy accounts for an impressive 10%. Meanwhile, fossil fuels narrowly occupy just over 11% of the electricity landscape, with gas being the most significant fossil component at about 8%. The path ahead for Brazil involves not just maintaining but increasing this low-carbon footprint, especially as the country moves toward electrifying other sectors, including transportation, heating, and industry.
Is Electricity Growing in Brazil?
However, Brazil faces challenges on the path to future growth in electricity consumption. Currently, electricity consumption per capita stands at 3525 kWh, slightly below the previous record high of 3584 kWh reached in 2024. This dip of 60 kWh per person is mirrored in low-carbon electricity generation, which has decreased from 3156 kWh per person to 3126 kWh. Despite Brazil's remarkable achievements in creating a predominantly low-carbon electricity system, the recent downturn highlights the need to revitalize growth in electricity generation to meet increasing demands, as sectors such as transport and industry continue to electrify.
Suggestions
To increase low-carbon electricity generation, expanding existing wind and solar infrastructures is a promising strategy for Brazil. These technologies already contribute significantly to the electricity mix and present immense potential for further development due to the country's favorable geographic conditions. Moreover, embracing nuclear energy could offer a reliable and continuous supply of clean electricity, complementing the intermittent nature of solar and wind power. By strategically harnessing these green energy resources, Brazil can ensure a resilient and sustainable energy future that supports electrification efforts across various sectors while cutting down on the harmful impacts of fossil fuels.
History
Looking at Brazil's history of low-carbon electricity, the country experienced notable growth in hydropower, particularly in the late 20th century and early 21st century. For instance, hydro expansions in the 1980s saw significant increases like the 16.6 TWh rise in 1984. The early 2000s also brought substantial growth, with 2002 and 2003 seeing increases of 18.2 TWh and 19.5 TWh, respectively. This success was periodically marked by declines in some years, such as 2001 and 2013, which serve as reminders of the complexities involved in managing hydrological resources. In the past few years, contributions from solar and wind have surged, evidenced by solar's leap of 23.2 TWh in 2024 and wind's 15.2 TWh increase in 2021. These developments underscore Brazil's shifting focus towards a diversified low-carbon electricity portfolio, a pathway essential for future demand and environmental sustainability.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.