Brazil’s National Electric System Operator (ONS) instructed power distributors to restrict generation from distributed sources on Sunday, citing forecast low demand during the weekend period.
The measure, implemented between 11:00 and 13:30 local time, marks the second such restriction this year after a similar reduction of 1 GW was enacted on June 7. The ONS cited the need to balance system supply and demand amid lower consumption patterns typical of weekends, particularly when combined with growing micro and mini distributed generation (MMGD) capacity.
The emergency plan, titled Emergency Plan for the Management of Energy Surpluses in the Distribution Network, is triggered when ONS-controlled generation cuts prove insufficient. Unlike centralized plants, distributed sources fall outside the operator’s direct oversight, requiring advance notice to distribution agents to manage output reductions.
The Brazilian Association of Electric Power Distributors (Abradee) confirmed receipt of the directive and noted the operational challenges posed by excess renewable generation during low-consumption periods. In a statement, Abradee emphasized the urgency of public policies to reorganize the grid and prevent blackouts, while warning that vague or inconsistent cut-off criteria could introduce legal uncertainty for generators.
The restriction follows broader efforts to integrate rising distributed energy resources into Brazil’s grid, which has seen rapid expansion in recent years. Analysts have highlighted the need for clearer regulatory frameworks to manage volatility from intermittent sources as the system evolves.
