Brazil is starting to emerge as one of the BESS (Battery Energy Storage Systems) markets with the highest potential in Latin America. The expansion of solar and wind generation, connection constraints, and energy curtailments are increasing the need to incorporate solutions that bring flexibility to the electrical system.
The country already exceeds 72 GW of operational solar capacity, but the growth of renewable sources has not been matched at the same pace by new grids and transmission infrastructure. In this context, energy storage gains relevance for managing available energy, reducing curtailment, and making better use of existing assets.
The development of a regulatory framework for standalone systems is also starting to give the sector greater visibility, although definitions remain pending for hybrid projects and behind-the-meter applications.
Faced with this scenario, Hopewind seeks to gain ground in Brazil with power conversion systems (PCS), and solutions aimed at both large-scale power plants and the commercial and industrial segment.
"We are seeing many BESS projects within existing plants, whether solar, hydro, thermal, or wind. Solar energy will continue to grow, although possibly at a slower pace, while storage will occupy more and more space," said Marcelo Thiele, Hopewind's account manager for Latin America.
Energía Estratégica spoke with the executive during The smarter E South America 2026, an exhibition held in São Paulo in which the media outlet participated as a media partner. There, the company presented its portfolio and its expansion plans in Brazil and the rest of the region.
Hopewind reports a BESS pipeline of 15 GW globally, with a presence in Latin American, Asian, European, and African markets. In Brazil, it already has operational equipment and features a 2.5 MW / 5 MWh reference system in Alagoas, equipped with a 2.5 MW central PCS.
"We have already delivered PCS for projects in Brazil. Customers can see our products working and verify their performance," Thiele stated.
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For large-scale power plants, the company's offering focuses on central architecture PCS. The firm also has string models tailored for commercial and industrial installations, the application of which depends on the technical characteristics of each development.
The portfolio includes:
- Central PCS: capacities ranging between 1.25 and 2.5 MW.
- String PCS: a 250 kW model.
- Turnkey stations & EMS systems: central architecture stations reach capacities of 2.5 MW, 5 MW, and 10 MW, while the string line covers configurations from 1.25 to 3 MW, 5 MW, and 7.5 MW.
The company also works with local partners to offer complete station solutions tailored to the specific needs of end customers and their projects.
Brazil accelerates within an expanding regional market
The growth of storage in Brazil is not an isolated phenomenon, but part of a trend starting to spread across Latin America. Chile has taken the lead in recent years, while Argentina, Colombia, Peru, and Uruguay are moving forward with projects linked to solar, wind, and other facilities that need to better manage their energy.
The potential scale of the Brazilian market is reflected in the registrations submitted to the Energy Research Office (EPE): 6,091 standalone BESS projects totaling 296.8 GW. More than 70% of that capacity is concentrated in the Northeast, a region that hosts a large share of the country's wind and solar expansion; the Southeast accounts for another 18.8%.
This volume does not equate to approved capacity nor does it guarantee that all developments will actually be built, but it clearly demonstrates investor interest. Industry estimates project an initial procurement of between 2 and 5 GW with a four-hour duration, equivalent to a storage capacity of 8 to 20 GWh.
The opportunity is backed by a renewable expansion that has begun to strain the electrical infrastructure. Furthermore, the country has moved forward with Normative Resolution 1.161/2026, which established the conditions for the authorization, grid access, and operation of standalone systems. Even so, specific rules remain pending for hybrid projects and behind-the-meter applications, alongside a review of the tax burden, which according to ABSOLAR exceeds 80% for storage systems.
"We are seeing many BESS projects within existing plants, whether solar, hydro, thermal, or wind. Solar energy will continue to grow, although possibly at a slower pace, while storage will occupy more and more space," Thiele affirmed.
For Hopewind, this development opens up opportunities beyond Brazil. The company aims to expand its presence in Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia, and Peru, within a regional market where battery integration is beginning to accompany the growth of renewable sources and grid challenges.