In a historic decision, Aneel regulates the use of batteries in the Brazilian electrical system and lays the groundwork for large-scale energy storage, reducing waste, enhancing energy security, and attracting new billion-dollar projects.
Aneel approves rules for batteries in the Brazilian electrical system, boosting energy storage, investments, and grid security.
The regulation approved by Aneel on June 2, 2026 marks one of the most important moments for the modernization of the national energy sector. The measure establishes the first rules for the integration of energy storage systems into the National Interconnected System (SIN), allowing the entry of batteries into the Brazilian electrical system in a regulated manner.
The decision was announced on the same day that the Minister of Mines and Energy, Alexandre Silveira, confirmed the publication of guidelines for the first battery auction in Brazil’s history, scheduled for December 2026. The advancement is seen as a decisive step to increase the flexibility of the electrical grid, reduce energy waste, and enhance the country’s energy security.
According to the Ten-Year Energy Expansion Plan (PDE), national demand for storage systems could exceed 6 GW by 2035, highlighting the strategic potential of this technology for the coming years.
Aneel unlocks market awaited for years by the electrical sector
The approval of the regulation ends a long wait for companies, associations, and investors linked to renewable energies. The sector advocated for the creation of clear rules to allow the expansion of batteries within the Brazilian electrical system.
The text approved by Aneel, under the rapporteurship of director Willamy Frota, establishes the criteria for obtaining the necessary authorizations and licenses for project implementation.
The expectation is that the new regulation will increase legal security for investors and drive a new phase of technological expansion in the country.
How batteries strengthen energy storage
Batteries store energy in chemical form and transform it back into electricity when necessary. This characteristic allows storing energy produced during periods of lower consumption and using it later during peak demand times.
The stored electricity can come from different sources:
- Solar energy;
- Wind energy;
- Hydroelectric plants;
- Thermal power plants;
- Conventional electrical grid.
This model makes energy storage an important tool to increase operational efficiency and reduce waste in the Brazilian electrical system.
New rule approved by Aneel avoids double charging and encourages investments
One of the main points of the regulation approved by Aneel involves the charging of tariffs for the use of transmission and distribution systems.
The agency decided to create a differentiated treatment for batteries operated entirely by the National Electric System Operator (ONS).
In practice, the charge will occur only during the energy discharge phase. This means there will be no second charge when the batteries are being charged.
Among the benefits of the model are:
- Reduction of operational costs;
- Greater financial predictability;
- Encouragement of new projects;
- Better economic viability of the ventures.
Agents acting independently, without dispatch from the ONS, will continue to pay tariffs both for consumption and for injecting energy into the grid.
Energy storage gains a strategic role in the energy transition
The rapid growth of renewable sources has increased the need for technologies capable of balancing the supply and demand for electricity.
Although solar and wind energy present important environmental advantages, both depend on weather conditions to generate electricity.
In this context, energy storage has come to be considered one of the most important solutions for the future of the energy matrix.
Batteries can:
- Store generation surpluses;
- Reduce fluctuations in the grid;
- Improve supply stability;
- Increase system reliability;
- Support the expansion of renewable energies.
Therefore, several countries have increased investments in this technology in recent years.
First battery auction could drive billion-dollar projects
The announcement made by Alexandre Silveira reinforced the importance of the regulation approved by Aneel.
The federal government intends to hold the first large-scale storage system auction in Brazil in December 2026.
The market considers the auction a milestone for the consolidation of the national battery industry, creating opportunities for manufacturers, investors, developers, and technology companies.
Additionally, the initiative could accelerate the arrival of new ventures in various regions of the country.
Brazilian electrical system faces increasingly greater challenges
The Brazilian electrical system is undergoing a significant transformation. The expansion of distributed solar generation and the growth of wind farms have increased the share of renewable sources in the national matrix.
At the same time, this advancement requires solutions capable of ensuring stability and operational security.
Batteries emerge precisely to meet this need, offering greater flexibility to the grid operator and contributing to a more efficient management of generated electricity.
Industry experts assess that the technology will play an increasingly relevant role over the next decade.
Projection of more than 6 GW shows potential of the Brazilian market
The numbers from the Ten-Year Energy Expansion Plan indicate the scale of the opportunity that is beginning to form.
According to the PDE, Brazil may require more than 6 GW in energy storage systems by 2035. This volume places the country among the markets with the greatest growth potential in the area.
The combination of renewable expansion, infrastructure modernization, and gradual reduction of technological costs tends to drive the adoption of batteries in the coming years.
For investors and companies in the electrical sector, the approved regulation represents an important sign of regulatory maturity.
A new chapter for Brazilian energy infrastructure
The decision by Aneel goes beyond a simple regulatory update. It lays the groundwork for the Brazilian electrical system to incorporate a technology considered essential for the future of energy.
With clearer rules, specific tariff treatment, and the prospect of public contracting as early as 2026, the energy storage market is gaining momentum to grow in a structured manner.
The expectation is that batteries will help reduce waste, increase network reliability, and facilitate the integration of renewable sources. With a projected demand above 6 GW by 2035, Brazil is beginning a new phase in the modernization of its electrical infrastructure, aligning with the main global trends in the energy sector.