Brazil launches 2026 battery capacity auctions to boost renewable energy storage

Brazil's Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) issued guidelines for two battery capacity auctions scheduled for December 2026. The first auction on 2 December will be limited to projects with national content, while the second on 4 December will be open to all. Contracts will run for 15 years, with power delivery beginning on 1 August 2028, and will include requirements such as a minimum 30 MW capacity, at least 85 % efficiency, and a six‑hour full‑charge time.

The moves aim to enable the country to “store wind” and improve integration of intermittent renewable sources like solar and wind, reducing curtailment and lowering system costs. Industry leaders welcome the step; Daniel Maia, CEO of Athon Energia, warned that without state‑level planning Brazil could waste its renewable advantage, noting that “storage will be as strategic as generation.” The auctions are seen as a critical step toward modernizing Brazil's grid, expanding battery deployment, and enhancing energy security.

The MME also announced location bonuses for projects in designated regions to further alleviate generation cuts, and the overall target is to contract several gigawatts of storage capacity by 2035, supporting the country's broader decarbonization goals.