South America DC Distribution Network Market

South America DC Distribution Network Market Analysis

The South America DC Distribution Network Market is expected to register a CAGR of 3.15% during the forecast period.

The market was negatively impacted by COVID-19 in 2020. Presently the market has reached pre-pandemic levels.

• Over the long term, factors such as growth in the region's renewable energy sector, its compatibility with battery storage devices, and advantages over AC distribution, like power sharing between systems with different frequencies, are expected to drive the market over the forecast period.
• On the other hand, high initial costs and complexity compared to generic distribution networks are expected to hinder the market's growth.
• Nevertheless, the DC distribution network is considered an essential factor regarding the future aspects of smart grids. Also, solar power is estimated to supply one-third of the world's energy demand by 2060, thereby proliferating DC distribution in the future, as solar energy generates a direct current.
• Brazil is expected to dominate the market due to increasing HVDC transmission projects during the forecast period.

South America DC Distribution Network Market Trends

EV Fast Charging Systems to Witness Significant Growth

• The countries in South America are rapidly growing in terms of electric vehicle usage. With incentives and a growing charging station network, the region wants to stimulate electric car demand and cut transport emissions.
• The government is converting the fleet of public transport buses to electric which is expected to drive the country market in coming years. For instance, in January 2021, BYD announced that it had bagged a cumulative order to supply 1,002-unit pure-electric buses to Bogota, Colombia. These buses were scheduled to be delivered from 2021 to the first half of 2022 and will be put into operation on 34 bus routes across five city regions.
• Vehicle tax in the country is based on the overall valuation of the car, varying anywhere from 1.5% - 3.5%. However, this has been relaxed to only 1% for Electric Vehicles. In addition to tax rebates, the government is also lowering electricity tariffs that would make charging EVs even more affordable. Also, major automobile companies like Renault, BMW, Hyundai, and KIA are actively introducing their electric portfolio in Colombia.
• As of November 2021, Mexico was the South American country with the most charging stations for electric vehicles, with 290 recharging points registered across the territory. It was followed by Brazil and Chile, with 273 and 244 stations, respectively.
• Moreover, in March 2022, Shell exclaimed to install the first EV chargers in the service station network. The company is working on its e-mobility strategy for the Latin-American region and plans to deploy its first EV chargers in Argentina. The company is currently assessing the initiative through a partnership with Audi and Volkswagen and has recently acquired a number of chargers to install in its Argentinian service stations.
• Owing to the above points and the region's recent developments, EV fast-charging systems are expected to witness significant growth during the forecast period.

Brazil is Expected to Dominate the Market

• Brazil has the largest electricity market in South America. Hydroelectricity provides more than 70% of Brazil's generation. Its total power generation installed capacity is comparable to that of Italy and the United Kingdom, although with a much more extensive transmission network.
• Brazil generates the third-highest amount of electricity in the Americas. The region is followed by Chile and the rest of the central and Southern American regions. Hydroelectricity is the major form of electricity, and the remaining electricity gets generated by fossil fuel and biomass.
• Electricity generation in Brazil amounted to over 656 terawatt-hours in 2021, an increase of some 5.6% compared to the previous year. Hydropower is the most important electricity generation source in Brazil, accounting for more than half of the country's output in 2021.
• Moreover, in December 2021, Iberdrola, through its subsidiary Neoenergia, was selected by the Agência Nacional de Energia Eletrica (ANEEL) to build a 500 kV substation in the state of Minas Gerais. The award was granted by the Agência Nacional de Energia Elétrica (ANEEL), Brazil's electricity system regulator, in an international tender with the aim of attracting investment to upgrade and expand the country's transmission networks. This, in turn, culminates in the growth of DC distribution network supplies across the country.
• Owing to the above points and the recent developments, Brazil is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period.

South America DC Distribution Network Industry Overview

The South American DC distribution network market is moderately consolidated. The key companies in the market (in no particular order) include ABB Ltd, Siemens AG, Vertiv Group Corp., Eaton Corporation PLC, and Sécheron SA.

South America DC Distribution Network Market Leaders

South America DC Distribution Network Market News

• December 2022: The government of Colombia announced that it plans to connect up to 3,000 MW of its renewable energy capacity to the national grid via an overhead high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission line in the country's north.
• July 2022: Sterlite Power Grid Ventures Limited announced that it had won two HVDC transmission projects in Brazil through its subsidiary Sterlite Brazil. The project is spanned across 5,425 kilometers of transmission lines in Brazil.