Solar Energy Grows During Pandemic, Generating 37,000 Jobs in Brazil

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Between January and May this year, solar energy gained an additional capacity of 1,236 MW, enough to supply some 4,800 homes. The result represents a 27 percent growth in installed capacity compared to last year’s aggregate. The data was released by the Brazilian Association of Photovoltaic Solar Energy (Absolar).

The photovoltaic energy source accumulates 5.7 GW of operational power. This capacity is shared between centralized systems, which are the large plants, and small residential and commercial projects, known as distributed generation. The centralized generation is slightly larger than the distributed generation, however, last year, the residential sector grew the most.

This sector is a major job generator. Since 2012, a total of 165,000 jobs have been created in the solar generation chain. In the first five months this year, over 37,000 workers were employed in the industry. Despite the pandemic, job offers continued. In May alone, the sector added 7,200 workers, he says.

According to the chairman of the board, Ronaldo Koloszuk, solar energy represents a “powerful lever” to revive the economy. “In Brazil, during the 2015 and 2016 crisis, the GDP dropped over three percent a year. Meanwhile, the photovoltaic sector has grown by more than 100 percent,” Koloszuk says.

In terms of investments, this year the sector attracted R$6 billion in private investments. Since 2012, more than R$30 billion (US$6 billion) have been invested in photovoltaic generation projects.

Globally, solar power led the growth of installed capacity for renewable energy in 2019. A total of 115 GW of power was added, representing an increase of 22.5 percent. In all, the installed capacity of renewable energies, including solar, wind, and biomass, increased by 200 GW. China is the country that generates the cleanest energy, with 789 GW, followed by the United States with 282 GW. Brazil, which generated 144 GW last year, is fourth in the ranking.

Source: Exame