Brazil boosts renewables with solar farm purchase and battery storage auctions

Cemig's wholly owned subsidiary, CemigSIM, completed the acquisition of 11 photovoltaic power plants in northern Minas Gerais for R$155 million. The solar farms have a combined installed capacity of 26 MW, sufficient to supply electricity to a municipality of up to 20,000 residents.

The Brazilian Ministry of Mines and Energy confirmed two unprecedented battery‑storage auctions slated for December. The tenders aim to contract roughly 2 GW of storage capacity, with an expected investment of about R$10 billion and contracts lasting 15 years, beginning operation in August 2028. One auction will require local content, while the other will be open to international suppliers, seeking to strengthen grid stability and complement intermittent renewable sources such as solar and wind.