Under a Memorandum of Understanding signed at Intersolar South America 2026, Jinko ESS and UCB Power will explore manufacturing BESS in Brazil, starting with UCB Power's facility in Extrema, Minas Gerais, and with the country's Capacity Reserve Auction (LRCAP) as a primary focus.
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Jinko ESS, the energy storage subsidiary of China-based Jinko Solar Co., Ltd., and UCB Power, a Brazil-based manufacturer of batteries and ESS, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at Intersolar South America 2026 in São Paulo. The MoU sets out to explore how BESS could be industrialized locally in Brazil, pairing Jinko ESS's technology and international portfolio with UCB Power's manufacturing base and presence in the local market.
Brazil's Capacity Reserve Auction (Leilão de Reserva de Capacidade - LRCAP) is one of the main areas the two companies will assess. Systems built in Brazil could meet local content requirements and qualify for projects that call for domestically manufactured equipment, and any inclusion of BESS in the auction would need a supply chain able to serve large-scale storage. Local production could also open access to Brazilian financing, including credit lines from the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES), where products and projects meet the applicable criteria.
The first industrialization route under consideration is UCB Power's facility in Extrema, in the state of Minas Gerais, and the companies may weigh further production options later depending on demand, project requirements and market conditions. UCB Power has manufactured batteries and ESS in Brazil for more than five decades, and its plant and market knowledge will feed the work needed to add local content to Jinko ESS products.
For large-scale projects, Jinko ESS is preparing the SunTera G3, a containerized energy storage system with a capacity of 6.25 MWh. Its 587 Ah cells raise energy density while the container keeps the same external dimensions. The SunTera G3 forms part of the industrialization strategy under consideration for Brazil and is in the final stage of certification.
Beyond the LRCAP, the collaboration could support other storage applications tied to grid stability and flexibility, transmission and distribution constraints and the integration of renewable energy. The companies will also look at opportunities in the commercial and industrial segments and in energy-intensive activities in Brazil.