Borderline La Niña may brighten winter for U.S, Mexico, Brazil
In a new weekly update for pv magazine, Solcast, a DNV company, forecasts drier and sunnier conditions in the forthcoming winter across key solar areas in the southern United States, Mexico and Brazil, driven by borderline La Niña conditions.
Apartment battery systems attractive after São Paulo storm blackout
Solar-plus-storage systems are attracting homes and businesses to guarantee energy supply and avoid losses in emergencies. Brazilian solar trade body Absolar estimates battery prices have fallen around 90% over 15 years.
The Hydrogen Stream: Infinity sends fuel cell to NASA for lunar testing
Infinity says it has delivered a fuel cell prototype to NASA for ground testing, aimed at demonstrating a regenerative energy storage system for potential lunar applications.
Batteries cheaper than new thermal plants for Brazil’s reserve grid capacity
Analyst Aurora Energy Research estimates battery storage systems cost 10% less than new combined cycle thermal power plants – and could be 29% cheaper. pv magazine spoke to Aurora’s Inês Gaspar about the figures.
Brazil launches public consultation on battery capacity reserve auction
According to the draft of the auction rules published by the Ministry of Mines and Energy, the procurement exercise will be held in June 2025 for systems with a power output of at least 30 MW that can store energy for at least four hours a day. The draft says that the contracts will cover a period of 10 years, with operation starting in July 2029.
Brazil to require solar inverters with arc fault circuit interrupters from December
Brazil’s National Institute of Metrology, Quality and Technology (Inmetro) says it has introduced a requirement for inverters to have arc fault circuit interrupters, effective December 2024, to prevent fires and enhance PV system safety.
Brazil to launch large-scale energy storage auction in 2025
The Brazilian authorities say they plan to hold a large-scale energy storage auction in 2025, potentially creating a market for large-scale storage facilities in the country.
Brazilians ready to embrace storage amid rising energy bills, falling battery prices
The conditions are in place for the country’s battery energy storage market to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20% to 30%, as Holu Solar’s Sophia Costa explained.
Intersolar South America underscores Brazil’s solar growth, tech innovation
The Intersolar South America trade show drew 650 exhibitors and 55,000 visitors in August, highlighting industry growth with new pavilions on storage and electric mobility. Brazil is on track to reach 47.2 GW of installed solar capacity by the end of this year, with 11 GW of new PV capacity additions, according to Brazilian PV association ABsolar.
Brazilian manufacturer unveils 1 kg BIPV module
Eternit S.A., a Brazilian construction materials supplier, says it has developed a 50 W panel for building-integrated PV (BIPV) applications. The 1 kg module features monocrystalline passivated emitter and rear cell (PERC) tech.
