The Energy Research Office (EPE) has completed the registration process for projects interested in participating in the 2026 Power Capacity Reserve Auctions (LRCAP) focused on Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) — “National Storage” and “Storage”. A total of 6,091 projects were registered, representing 296,807 megawatts (MW) of power capacity, setting a record for participation in auctions within the Brazilian power sector.
The auctions were established by the Ministry of Mines and Energy’s Normative Ordinance No. 136 of June 1st, 2026, which defined the guidelines and framework for contracting power capacity from new battery energy storage systems, with the objective of contributing to the security and reliability of the National Interconnected System (SIN).
The significant volume of registered projects demonstrates the strong interest of market participants in deploying energy storage systems within Brazil’s electricity sector and reinforces the strategic role of this technology in increasing system operational flexibility, supporting the integration of renewable energy sources, and meeting the system’s future power capacity requirements.
It is important to note, however, that registered projects do not automatically qualify to participate in the auctions. Projects will now undergo the technical review and qualification stages conducted by EPE, in accordance with the established technical criteria. Only after the qualification process is completed will the number of eligible projects, and consequently the amount of eligible capacity, be known for participation in the subsequent auction stages.
According to the Normative Ordinance No. 136/2026, two separate auctions will be held:
Both auctions aim to procure firm power availability to meet the Brazilian power system’s needs from 2028 onwards.
The registration results mark an important milestone toward the realization of Brazil’s first auction dedicated to the large-scale procurement of battery energy storage systems, confirming strong market interest in this technology and expanding the prospects for its integration into the national electricity matrix.
Additional details regarding the registration and technical qualification stages can be found in the Technical Report published by EPE on the Auctions webpage.
