The Brazilian Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) and the Energy Research Company (EPE) have published the Summary Report on the National Energy Balance for 2024.

Electricity Generation

In 2024, 88.2% of Brazil’s electricity was generated from renewable sources (RES). In the generation structure:

• Hydroelectric power plants (HPP) – 56%, a decrease of 1% compared to 2023.
• Wind and solar energy – 23.7%, an increase of 12.4% and 39.6%, respectively.
• Distributed solar generation produced 41,006 GWh (5.6% of the total).

The installed capacity of solar power plants reached 55 GW (22.2% of the total capacity of the power system), making solar energy the second source in this indicator.

Primary energy consumption

The share of renewable energy in the total energy balance (including transport, industry and other sectors) was 50% – the highest level since 1989. The main growth factors:

• Stable supplies of hydropower and biomass from sugar cane.
• Increased use of black liquor, biodiesel, wind and solar energy.

For comparison: in OECD countries, the share of renewable energy in the energy balance is 13.2% (2023).

Industrial and transport sector

• Industry: energy consumption increased by 1.4%, electricity – by 4.1%. Renewable energy sources provided 64.4% of energy consumption. Coal consumption increased by 3.5%, firewood and charcoal by 2.1%, and fuel oil decreased by 17.4%.
• Transport: RES share — 25.7% (+2.7% compared to 2023), including increased consumption of hydrated ethanol (+30.1%) and biodiesel (+19.3%). Ethanol production increased by 2.8%, with ethanol from corn accounting for 20%.
• Electric vehicles consumed 309 GWh (included in the report for the first time).

Greenhouse gas emissions

Total emissions from the energy sector — 431.3 million tons of CO₂-eq., including:

• 49.7% (214.3 million tons) — transport.
• Specific emissions from the electric power industry — 59.9 kg CO₂-eq./MWh.

The agriculture, land use and forestry sectors account for 70% of emissions, the fuel and energy sector — 20.5%.

Methodological aspects

The report separates data by:

• Electricity production (share of renewable energy sources — 88.2%).
• Primary energy consumption (share of renewable energy sources — 50%).
  It is noted that calculation methods may underestimate the contribution of solar and wind generation to the primary energy balance.

The report data reflects the steady growth of renewable energy sources in Brazil, while hydropower and biomass continue to play a significant role.