The Brazilian Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) has launched an A-4 auction, the first round of the new biannual tenders to be held through to 2021, under which all renewable energies - wind, solar photovoltaic (PV), hydroelectric and biomass - will compete one against another. The registration deadline has been set for the beginning of April 2019. Bidders who were already qualified to compete in the country's previous auctions are exempted from re-applying if their projects remain unchanged, and can request the fast-tracked registration of their proposals. Wind projects are allowed to compete if they have a capacity of at least 5 MW. Selected projects are due to come online by 1 January 2023.
This auction will be the first of six to be held in Brazil between 2019 and 2021. More specifically, these six auctions will entail two different types: one A-4 auction (projects to be developed within 4 years) and one A-6 auction (projects to be developed within 6 years) will be held every year until 2021. The 2019 A-6 auction is scheduled to be held in September 2019.
Brazil's last A-4 energy auction took place in April 2018 and four wind parks secured contracts at BRL 67.60/MWh (US$19.95/MWh), while the last A-6 auction took place in December 2017, with contracts awarded to a total of 1.4 GW of wind capacity to sell electricity at a rate of BRL 98.62/MWh (US$29.74/MWh).