Brazil sets a new record in energy consumption

The National Electrical System Operator (ONS) reported on Sunday (17) that the National Energy Grid has set a new record in consumption. At 2:37pm on Friday (15), the National Interconnected System (SIN) recorded peak demand of 102,478 MW, the highest level ever in history. Furthermore, the average daily load was also the highest to date, reaching 91,338 MW.

Heat and energy consumption

Although summer is over, the heat in Brazil does not let up. According to the Office of National Statistics, the increase in energy consumption was affected by high temperatures, while the country is experiencing another heat wave. The national operator stated, in an official statement, that “since November 2023, the SIN network has recorded successive records in demand for instantaneous loads, due to heat waves.”

Previous records

The previous records for energy consumption were set on November 14, 2023, when it reached a peak of 101,475 megawatts, and on February 7, 2024, at 101,860 megawatts. According to Climatembo forecasts, the current heatwave is expected to continue until the end of summer, on March 20, causing temperatures to rise by up to 5 degrees Celsius above average.

Energy demand forecasts

The National Statistics Office predicts that between March 16 and 22, electricity demand in Brazil will be 5.7% higher than in the same week last year. This increase is further evidence that energy consumption is directly linked to climate change, especially during periods of extreme heat.