Brazilian trade associations oppose potential delay to energy storage auction

In light of discussion about the possible postponement of a Capacity Reserve Auction which would include battery storage systems, Brazilian renewable energy trade bodies the Brazilian Association of Distributed Generation, Abeeólica, the Brazilian Association of Energy Storage Solutions (ABSAE), and the Brazilian Photovoltaic Solar Energy Association – have signed a joint letter to express their concern and to emphasize the importance of strategic decisions to guarantee the modernization, security, and competitiveness of the national electricity sector.

“Brazil has a strategic opportunity to modernize its electricity sector by incorporating technologies that are already well-established on the international scene,” stated the letter. “Battery storage systems represent an important step forward for the country as they offer new power capacity at a lower overall cost to the consumer, reduce losses in the system, increase the use of renewable sources and provide rapid responses to the operational needs of the electricity sector – thus promoting greater reliability and security in the energy supply.”

The letter emphasized there are no technical or legal impediments that justify postponing the auction, including the fact a public consultation held last year in connection with the planned procurement exercise has been in the hands of the National Electric Energy Agency (ANEEL) since late last year.

ABSAE president Markus Vlasits told pv magazine the auction process would be independent of ANEEL regulation and tender rules could be established by the Ministry of Mines and Energy.

“Batteries are ready to provide the system with new power at a lower overall cost to the consumer, reduced losses and, thanks to their intrinsic flexibility, a much better use of renewable sources,” stated the trade body letter to government. “Their ability to respond quickly to systemic demands contributes directly to the reliability, security of supply and, crucially, to the affordable tariffs of the Brazilian electricity sector.”

Read the full (Portuguese) text here.

From pv magazine Brasil.