Solar panel farm in dry Brazilian landscape

A solar photovoltaic farm in the Brazilian sertão harnesses high irradiation to generate clean energy in a semiarid region.

About this subject

The Brazilian sertão, a semiarid region covering much of the Northeast, features high solar irradiation and low rainfall, making it ideal for photovoltaic power generation. In recent years, Brazil has invested in large solar farms in this area, such as the Juazeiro solar complex (Bahia) and the São Gonçalo complex (Piauí), together totaling hundreds of megawatts of installed capacity. The choice of the sertão is strategic: average annual solar irradiation exceeds 2,000 kWh/m², higher than in leading countries like Germany and Spain. Additionally, flat topography and low land costs facilitate large panel installations. Environmentally, solar energy reduces reliance on hydroelectric plants, which suffer from droughts, and on fossil fuel thermal plants. Socially, farms generate local jobs during construction and operation, though integration with traditional communities presents challenges. Panel maintenance requires periodic cleaning due to dust, but intense radiation compensates. Brazil currently ranks eighth globally in installed solar capacity, with continuous growth projected.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the sertão chosen for solar farms?

The sertão has high solar irradiation (over 2,000 kWh/m²/year), flat terrain, and low land costs, conditions that maximize energy efficiency and reduce deployment costs.

What are the main challenges of solar farms in the sertão?

Dust requires frequent panel cleaning, and integration with local communities needs careful handling to avoid land conflicts. Transmitting energy to consumer centers also demands investment in transmission lines.

What is Brazil's current installed solar capacity?

In 2024, Brazil surpassed 40 GW of installed solar capacity, with about 60% from distributed generation (rooftops) and 40% from large centralized plants, according to ABSOLAR.