EP. 286 Beyond Buildout: Brazil’s Next Power Market Evolution

This week on Energy Unplugged, Rodrigo Borges, Market Lead for Brazil at Aurora Energy Research, is joined by Veronica Coelho, Country Manager & SVP at Equinor, and Roberto Colindres, CEO of Rio Energy. Together, they explore how Brazil’s power sector is entering a new phase of development – where system optimisation, rather than pure capacity growth, will define the next cycle of investment.

Veronica brings a global developer perspective from Equinor’s international portfolio, including large-scale offshore wind, while Roberto draws on his experience leading the development and scaling of renewable assets in Brazil. The discussion highlights how Brazil’s abundance of wind, solar, water, and land positions it as a potential global clean energy powerhouse – provided the right regulatory and system-level frameworks are in place.

The conversation examines the evolving dynamics of Brazil’s electricity market: rising curtailment, increasing intraday price volatility, and mounting pressure on grid infrastructure. The discussion highlights the growing importance of BESS to reduce curtailment, capture price spreads, and improve system flexibility, while also discussing why offshore wind—despite world-class resource potential—remains a longer-term opportunity given current cost challenges relative to onshore renewables.

You will learn about:

• Why Brazil’s next phase of renewables growth depends on optimisation, not just expansion.

• How BESS can reduce curtailment, lower system costs, and enhance grid flexibility.

• Why offshore wind in Brazil is a major long-term opportunity but not yet cost-competitive.

• How grid constraints and market design challenges are shaping investment decisions.

• Why long-term policy visibility and regulatory stability are critical to unlocking future growth.