Renewable energy in Brazil

Last updated

Paulo Afonso Hydroelectric Powerplant in Bahia Cachoeira de Paulo Afonso.jpg
Paulo Afonso Hydroelectric Powerplant in Bahia

As of 2018, renewable energy accounted for 79% of the domestically produced electricity used in Brazil. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

Brazil relies on hydroelectricity for 65% of its electricity, [1] [2] and the Brazilian government plans to expand the share of wind energy (currently 11%), solar energy (currently 2.5%) and biomass [1] [2] as alternatives. [4] [5]

According to Brazil's Energy Master-plan 2016-2026 (PDE2016-2026), Brazil is expected to install 18,5GW of additional wind power generation, 84% in the North-East and 14% in the South. [1]

Brazil started focusing on developing alternative sources of energy, mainly sugarcane ethanol, after the oil shocks in the 1970s. Brazil's large sugarcane farms helped the development. In 1985, 91% of cars produced that year ran on sugarcane ethanol. The success of flexible-fuel vehicles, introduced in 2003, together with the mandatory E25 blend throughout the country, have allowed ethanol fuel consumption in the country to achieve a 50% market share of the gasoline-powered fleet by February 2008. [6] [7]

The European Investment Bank, as of 2023, signed a €200 million loan to make renewable energy to homes in Sao Paulo's favelas more available. [8]

Total energy matrix and Electric energy matrix

The main characteristic of the Brazilian energy matrix is that it is much more renewable than that of the world. While in 2019 the world matrix was only 14% made up of renewable energy, Brazil's was at 45%. Petroleum and oil products made up 34.3% of the matrix; sugar cane derivatives, 18%; hydraulic energy, 12.4%; natural gas, 12.2%; firewood and charcoal, 8.8%; varied renewable energies, 7%; mineral coal, 5.3%; nuclear, 1.4%, and other non-renewable energies, 0.6%. [9]

In the electric energy matrix, the difference between Brazil and the world is even greater: while the world only had 25% of renewable electric energy in 2019, Brazil had 83%. The Brazilian electric matrix is composed of: hydraulic energy, 64.9%; biomass, 8.4%; wind energy, 8.6%; solar energy, 1%; natural gas, 9.3%; oil products, 2%; nuclear, 2.5%; coal and derivatives, 3.3%. [9]

Electricity

Hydroelectricity

Hydroelectric power plants produced almost 80% of the electrical energy consumed in Brazil (now 60%). [10] Brazil has the third highest potential for hydroelectricity, following Russia and China. [11] At the end of 2021 Brazil was the 2nd country in the world in terms of installed hydroelectric power (109.4 GW). [12] Although the dams produce large amounts of electricity, they can also have negative impacts on people that live in close proximity to them. Electricity and the other benefits of dams often bypass the rural communities that live near the them. [13]

Itaipu power plant

A small hydroelectric power plant in Wenceslau Braz, Minas Gerais. Wenceslau Braz.jpg
A small hydroelectric power plant in Wenceslau Braz, Minas Gerais.

The Itaipu Dam is the world's second largest hydroelectric power station by installed capacity. Built on the Paraná River dividing Brazil and Paraguay, the dam provides over 75% of Paraguay's electric power needs, and meets more than 20% of Brazil's total electricity demand. The river runs along the border of the two countries, and during the initial diplomatic talks for the dam construction both countries were suffering from droughts. The original goal was therefore to provide better management and utilization of water resources for the irrigation of crops. Argentina was also later incorporated in some of the governmental planning and agreements because it is directly affected, being downstream, by the regulation of the water on the river. If the dam were to completely open the water flow, areas as far south as Buenos Aires could potentially flood.

Construction of the dam started in 1975, and the first generator was opened in 1983. It is estimated that 10,000 locals were displaced by the construction of the dam, and around 40,000 people were hired to help with the construction of the project. Many environmental concerns were overlooked when constructing the dam, due to the trade-off considering the production of such a large amount of energy without carbon emissions, and no immediate harmful byproducts, such as with nuclear energy.

Wind power

Windfarm in Osorio, Rio Grande do Sul. P1240012.JPG
Windfarm in Osório, Rio Grande do Sul.

In July 2022 Brazil reached 22 GW of installed wind power. [14] [15] In 2021 Brazil was the 7th country in the world in terms of installed wind power (21 GW), [16] [17] and the 4th largest producer of wind energy in the world (72 TWh), behind only China, USA and Germany. [18]

As of August 2021, the total installed wind power capacity in Brazil was 18.9 GW, with 16.4 GW in the Northeast Region and 2.0 GW in the South Region. [19]

Wind is more intense from June to December, coinciding with the months of lower rainfall intensity. This puts the wind as a potential complementary source of energy to hydroelectricity. [20]

While the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP15) was taking place in Copenhagen, Brazil's National Electric Energy Agency (ANEEL) held the country's first ever wind-only energy auction. On 14 December 2009, around 1,800 megawatts (MW) were contracted with energy from 71 wind power plants scheduled to be delivered beginning 1 July 2012. The 716 MW Lagoa dos Ventos began operating in 2021. [21]

Renewable energy in Brazil

Solar power

Pirapora Solar Complex, one of the largest in Brazil and Latin America, with a capacity of 321 MW. Usina solar de Pirapora 2.gif
Pirapora Solar Complex, one of the largest in Brazil and Latin America, with a capacity of 321 MW.

In October 2022 Brazil reached 22 GW of installed solar power. [22] [23] In 2021, Brazil was the 14th country in the world in terms of installed solar power (13 GW), [24] and the 11th largest producer of solar energy in the world (16.8 TWh). [18] The total installed solar power in Brazil was estimated at 34.2 GW at October 2023, which consists of about 15.6% of the country's electricity matrix. [25] In 2022, Brazil was the 8th country in the world in terms of installed solar power capacity (24.079 GW). [26]

As of May 2022, according to ONS, total installed capacity of photovoltaic solar was 15.18 GW, with 10 GW of distributed solar (where Minas Gerais stood out with 1.73 GW, São Paulo with 1.29 GW and Rio Grande do Sul with 1.17 GW of this total) and 5.18 GW in solar plants (where Bahia, with 1,354 MW, Piauí, with 1,205 MW, Minas Gerais, with 730 MW, São Paulo, with 588 MW and Ceará, with 499 MW stood out) [27] [28]

Brazil has one of the highest solar incidence in the world. [29]

The largest solar plants in Brazil consist of Ituverava and the Nova Olinda plants. The Ituverava solar plant produces 254 MW and the Nova Olinda plant produces 292 MW. [30]

Renewable energy in Brazil
YearInstalled PV capacity [24] [31]
MW
20138
201420
201541
2016148
20171,296
20182,470
20194,615
20207,881
202113,055
202224,079
23 Oct34.2

Ethanol fuel

Brazil is the second largest producer of ethanol in the world and is the largest exporter of the fuel. In 2008, Brazil produced 454,000 bbl/d of ethanol, up from 365,000 in 2007. All gasoline in Brazil contains ethanol, with blending levels varying from 20–25%. Over half of all cars in the country are of the flex-fuel variety, meaning that they can run on 100% ethanol or an ethanol-gasoline mixture. According to ANP, Brazil also produced about 20,000 bbl/d of biodiesel in 2008, and the agency has enacted a 3% blending requirement for domestic diesel sales.[ citation needed ]

The importance of ethanol in Brazil's domestic transportation fuels market is expected to increase in the future. According to Petrobras, ethanol accounts for more than 50% of current light vehicle fuel demand, and the company expects this to increase to over 80% by 2020. Because ethanol production continues to grow faster than domestic demand, Brazil has sought to increase ethanol exports. According to industry sources, Brazil's ethanol exports reached 86,000 bbl/d in 2008, with 13,000 bbl/d going to the United States. Brazil is the largest ethanol exporter in the world, holding over 90% of the global export market. [32]

Biomass

Sugarcane plantation in Avare (State of Sao Paulo). Cane remains are used to produce biomass energy. Faz S Sofia canavial 090607 REFON.JPG
Sugarcane plantation in Avaré (State of São Paulo). Cane remains are used to produce biomass energy.
Eucalyptus in the State of Espirito Santo. Remains of the tree are reused for biomass power generation. Reflorestamento eucalipto Espirito Santo (Fabio Pozzebom)24mar2007.jpg
Eucalyptus in the State of Espírito Santo. Remains of the tree are reused for biomass power generation.

In 2020, Brazil was the 2nd largest country in the world in the production of energy through biomass (energy production from solid biofuels and renewable waste), with 15,2 GW installed. [33]

Biomass is a clean energy source used in Brazil. It reduces environmental pollution as it uses organic garbage, agricultural remains, wood shaving or vegetable oil. Refuse cane, with its high energetic value, has been used to produce electricity. [34] More than 1 million people in the country work in the production of biomass, and this energy represents 27% of Brazil's energetic matrix. [35]

Where biomass plantations are supplying energy on a commercial basis in Brazil, the Philippines and Sweden, it can be shown that a combination of government policies or high conventional energy prices have stimulated the use of short-rotation plantations for energy. Brazil used tax incentives beginning in the mid-1960s to initiate a reforestation program to provide for industrial wood energy and wood product needs. As a consequence of the Brazilian Forestry Code with its favourable tax incentives, the planted forest area in Brazil increased from 470,000 hectares to 6.5 million hectares by 1993. With the discontinuation of the tax incentives in 1988, plantation establishment in Brazil has slowed, although the commercial feasibility of using eucalyptus for energy and other products has been clearly demonstrated. [36]

External funding

The European Investment Bank provided a €200 million loan starting 2021 to support renewable energy projects, specifically to establish a wind farm and solar power plant. [37] [38] [39] This will support a series of onshore wind farms divided into two clusters, in Paraiba, Piauí, and Bahia. A solar photovoltaic plant will be built 10 km away from the Paraiba wind farm, with a total capacity of 574 MW (425 MW of wind power and 149 MW of solar power). [39]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iberdrola</span> Spanish multinational electric utility company

Iberdrola, S.A. is a Spanish multinational electric utility company based in Bilbao, Spain. It has around 40,000 employees and serves around 30 million customers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wind power in Spain</span>

Spain is one of the countries with the largest wind power capacity installed, with over 27 GW in 2020. In 2013, it had become the first country in the world to have wind power as its main source of energy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renewable energy in Portugal</span>

Renewable energy in Portugal was the source for 25.7% of total energy consumption in 2013. In 2014, 27% of Portugal's energy needs were supplied by renewable sources. In 2016, 28% of final energy consumption in Portugal came from renewable sources.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Energy in Brazil</span>

Brazil is the 7th largest energy consumer in the world and the largest in South America. At the same time, it is an important oil and gas producer in the region and the world's second largest ethanol fuel producer. The government agencies responsible for energy policy are the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME), the National Council for Energy Policy (CNPE), the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels (ANP) and the National Agency of Electricity (ANEEL). State-owned companies Petrobras and Eletrobras are the major players in Brazil's energy sector, as well as Latin America's.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renewable energy in the United States</span>

According to data from the US Energy Information Administration, renewable energy accounted for 8.4% of total primary energy production and 21% of total utility-scale electricity generation in the United States in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renewable energy in Honduras</span>

In Honduras, there is an important potential of untapped indigenous renewable energy resources. Due to the variability of high oil prices and declining renewable infrastructure costs, such resources could be developed at competitive prices.

The electricity sector in Argentina constitutes the third largest power market in Latin America. It relies mostly on thermal generation and hydropower generation (36%). The prevailing natural gas-fired thermal generation is at risk due to the uncertainty about future gas supply.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renewable energy in China</span>

China is the world's leader in electricity production from renewable energy sources, with over triple the generation of the second-ranking country, the United States. China's renewable energy sector is growing faster than its fossil fuels and nuclear power capacity, and is expected to contribute 43% of global renewable capacity growth. China's total renewable energy capacity exceeded 1,000 GW in 2021, accounting for 43.5 per cent of the country's total power generation capacity, 10.2 percentage points higher than in 2015. The country aims to have 80 per cent of its total energy mix come from non-fossil fuel sources by 2060, and achieve a combined 1,200 GW of solar and wind capacity by 2030. In 2023, it was reported that China was on track to reach 1,371 gigawatts of wind and solar by 2025, five years ahead of target due to new renewables installations breaking records. In 2024, it was reported that China would reach its target by the end of July 2024, six years ahead of target.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renewable energy in Spain</span>

Renewable energy in Spain, comprising bioenergy, wind, solar, and hydro sources, accounted for 15.0% of the Total Energy Supply (TES) in 2019. Oil was the largest contributor at 42.4% of the TES, followed by gas, which made up 25.4%.

Brazil has the largest electricity sector in Latin America. Its capacity at the end of 2021 was 181,532 MW. The installed capacity grew from 11,000 MW in 1970 with an average yearly growth of 5.8% per year. Brazil has the largest capacity for water storage in the world, being dependent on hydroelectricity generation capacity, which meets over 60% of its electricity demand. The national grid runs at 60 Hz and is powered 83% from renewable sources. This dependence on hydropower makes Brazil vulnerable to power supply shortages in drought years, as was demonstrated by the 2001–2002 energy crisis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renewable energy in India</span>

India is the world's 3rd largest consumer of electricity and the world's 3rd largest renewable energy producer with 40% of energy capacity installed in the year 2022 coming from renewable sources. Ernst & Young's (EY) 2021 Renewable Energy Country Attractiveness Index (RECAI) ranked India 3rd behind USA and China. In FY2023-24, India is planning to issue 50 GW tenders for wind, solar and hybrid projects. India has committed for a goal of 500 GW renewable energy capacity by 2030.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electricity sector in Uruguay</span>

The electricity sector of Uruguay has traditionally been based on domestic hydropower along with thermal power plants, and reliant on imports from Argentina and Brazil at times of peak demand. Over the last 10 years, investments in renewable energy sources such as wind power and solar power allowed the country to cover in early 2016 94.5% of its electricity needs with renewable energy sources.

Renewable energy in Russia mainly consists of hydroelectric energy. Russia is rich not only in oil, gas and coal, but also in wind, hydro, geothermal, biomass and solar energy – the resources of renewable energy. Practically all regions have at least one or two forms of renewable energy that are commercially exploitable, while some regions are rich in all forms of renewable energy resources. However, fossil fuels dominate Russia’s current energy mix, while its abundant and diverse renewable energy resources play little role.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Energy in Spain</span>

Primary energy consumption in Spain in 2020 was mainly composed of fossil sources. The largest sources are petroleum (42.3%), natural gas (19.8%) and coal (11.6%). The remaining 26.3% is accounted for by nuclear energy (12%) and different renewable energy sources (14.3%). Domestic production of primary energy includes nuclear (44.8%), solar, wind and geothermal (22.4%), biomass and waste (21.1%), hydropower (7.2%) and fossil (4.5%).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renewable energy in Italy</span>

Renewable energy has developed rapidly in Italy over the past decade and provided the country a means of diversifying from its historical dependency on imported fuels. Solar power accounted for around 8% of the total electric production in the country in 2014, making Italy the country with the highest contribution from solar energy in the world that year. Rapid growth in the deployment of solar, wind and bio energy in recent years lead to Italy producing over 40% of its electricity from renewable sources in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solar power in Brazil</span> Overview of solar power in Brazil

The total installed solar power in Brazil was estimated at 48.2 GW at October 2024, which consists of about 20.2% of the country's electricity matrix. In 2023, Brazil was the 6th country in the world in terms of installed solar power capacity.

Renewable energy in Thailand is a developing sector that addresses the country’s present high rate of carbon emissions. Several policies, such as the Thirteenth Plan or the Alternative Energy Development Plan, set future goals for increasing the capacity of renewable energy and reduce the reliance of nonrenewable energy. The major sources of renewable energy in Thailand are hydro power, solar power, wind power, and biomass, with biomass currently accounting for the majority of production. Thailand’s growth is hoped to lead to renewable energy cost reduction and increased investment.

Renewable energy in Chile is classified as Conventional and Non Conventional Renewable Energy (NCRE), and includes biomass, hydro-power, geothermal, wind and solar among other energy sources. Usually, when referring to Renewable Energy in Chile, it will be the Non Conventional kind.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renewable energy in Hungary</span>

Hungary is a member of the European Union and thus takes part in the EU strategy to increase its share of renewable energy. The EU has adopted the 2009 Renewable Energy Directive, which included a 20% renewable energy target by 2020 for the EU. By 2030 wind should produce in average 26-35% of the EU's electricity and save Europe €56 billion a year in avoided fuel costs. The national authors of Hungary forecast is 14.7% renewables in gross energy consumption by 2020, exceeding their 13% binding target by 1.7 percentage points. Hungary is the EU country with the smallest forecast penetration of renewables of the electricity demand in 2020, namely only 11%.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renewable energy in Costa Rica</span>

Renewable energy in Costa Rica supplied about 98.1% of the electrical energy output for the entire nation and imported 807000 MWh of electricity in 2016. Fossil fuel energy consumption in Costa Rica was 49.48 as of 2014, with demand for oil increasing in recent years. In 2014, 99% of its electrical energy was derived from renewable energy sources, about 80% of which from hydroelectric power. For the first 75 days of 2015, 100% of its electrical energy was derived from renewable energy sources and in mid 2016 that feat was accomplished for 110 consecutive days despite suboptimal weather conditions.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Plano Decenal de Expansão de Energia 2026". EPE (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 "Invest in Brazil - Brazilian M&A Guide 2018". CAPITAL INVEST. 24 September 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2018.
  3. ↑ "Renewable energy in Brazil".
  4. ↑ "ABEEólica - Associação Brasileira de Energia Eólica". ABEEólica.
  5. ↑ Walzer, Robert P. (9 November 2009). "Brazilian Wind Power Gets a Boost". Green Blog.
  6. ↑ Agência Brasil (15 July 2008). "ANP: consumo de álcool combustível é 50% maior em 2007" (in Portuguese). Invertia. Archived from the original on 26 December 2008. Retrieved 9 August 2008.
  7. ↑ Samora, Roberto (3 June 2009). "Gabrielli: etanol reduzirá mercado de gasolina a 17% até 2020".
  8. ↑ "The crucial intersection between gender and climate". European Investment Bank. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  9. 1 2 "MATRIZ ENERGÉTICA". www.epe.gov.br.
  10. ↑ {Source missing}
  11. ↑ "Hydro Electricity in Brazil".
  12. ↑ "RENEWABLE CAPACITY STATISTICS 2022" (PDF). IRENA. Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  13. ↑ García, María Alejandra; Mayer, Adam; Cavallini Johansen, Igor; Lopez, Maria Claudia; Moran, Emilio F. (1 June 2024). "Spatial injustice to energy access in the shadow of hydropower in Brazil". World Development. 178: 106570. doi:10.1016/j.worlddev.2024.106570. ISSN   0305-750X.
  14. ↑ "Eólica supera 22 GW em operação no Brasil". MegaWhat ⚡.
  15. ↑ "Brasil atinge 21 GW de capacidade instalada de energia eólica" (in Brazilian Portuguese). Valor. 21 January 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  16. ↑ "RENEWABLE CAPACITY STATISTICS 2021" (PDF).
  17. ↑ "Global wind statistics" (PDF). IRENA. 22 April 2022. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  18. 1 2 Ritchie, Hannah; Roser, Max; Rosado, Pablo (27 October 2022). "Energy". Our World in Data– via ourworldindata.org.
  19. ↑ "Boletim Mensal de Geração Eólica Agosto/2021" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Operador Nacional do Sistema Elétrico - ONS. 29 September 2021. pp. 6, 13. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  20. ↑ "G1 > Ciência e Saúde - NOTÍCIAS - Leilão em dezembro busca impulsionar geração de energia por ventos no Brasil". g1.globo.com.
  21. ↑ Lewis, Michelle (11 June 2021). "South America's largest wind farm starts commercial operations". Electrek .
  22. ↑ "Solar atinge 21 GW e R$ 108,6 bi em investimentos no Brasil – CanalEnergia". www.canalenergia.com.br.
  23. ↑ "Brasil é 4º país que mais cresceu na implantação de energia solar em 2021" (in Brazilian Portuguese). R7. 25 April 2022. Retrieved 27 May 2022.
  24. 1 2 RENEWABLE CAPACITY STATISTICS 2022
  25. ↑ "Infográfico". ABSOLAR (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 9 November 2023.
  26. ↑ "Renewable energy statistics 2023". www.irena.org. 6 July 2023.
  27. ↑ "Boletim Mensal de Geração Solar Fotovoltaica Agosto/2021" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Operador Nacional do Sistema Elétrico - ONS. 29 September 2021. pp. 6, 12. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  28. ↑ "Brasil ultrapassa marca de 10 GW em micro e minigeração distribuída". Agência Nacional de Energia Elétrica.
  29. ↑ Ramos Martins, Fernando; Bueno Pereira, Enio; Luna de Abreu, Samuel; Colle, Sergio. "Brazilian Atlas for Solar Energy Resource: SWERA Results" (PDF). Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  30. ↑ "Enel Starts Operation of South America's Two Largest Solar Parks in Brazil". WebWire. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  31. ↑ "Infográfico".
  32. ↑ PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from Energy Information Administration. Brazil. United States Department of Energy . Retrieved 15 December 2023.
  33. ↑ "RENEWABLE CAPACITY STATISTICS 2021 page 41" (PDF). Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  34. ↑ "Why saving energy matters to the country and the planet". www.natureba.com.br.
  35. ↑ Ambientebrasil, Redação (23 January 2009). "Biomassa: uma energia brasileira".
  36. ↑ PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from Bioenergy - Biomass in Brazil. United States Department of Energy. Courtesy of Oak Ridge National Laboratory, U.S. Dept. of Energy
  37. ↑ Terra, Nana. "Wind energy in Brazil breaks records and creates jobs". www.airswift.com. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  38. ↑ "Neoenergia gets EIB loan for 1.2 GW of Brazilian renewables". Renewablesnow.com. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  39. 1 2 Azzopardi, Tom. "Iberdrola subsidiary Neoenergia signs wind PPA with Brazilian conglomerate". www.windpowermonthly.com. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.