Renewable Energies in Brazil

Brazil, the largest country in South America, is known for its diversity. Unique natural wonders, beautiful sandy beaches, lively metropolises and the warmth of the Brazilians characterize the country and attract many Brazil vacationers every year. But have you ever thought about how such a big country manages to generate enough energy to supply its population?

Very few people know that Brazil is at the forefront of energy supply through renewable energies. According to the Secretariat for Energy Planning and Development, in 2016 Brazil was producing about 80 percent of its electricity needs from renewable energy sources. Renewable energies are forms of energy that, unlike fossil fuels such as oil, coal and gas, are not based on finite resources. These include wind, water and solar energy, for example, which also contribute to sustainability.

In Brazil, the share of the various renewable energy sources is made up as follows: 65 percent hydropower, 8.7 percent biomass, 6.5 percent wind power and 0.01 percent solar power (as of 2016).

The Brazilian energy matrix is based primarily on hydroelectric power with 65 percent. After Russia and China, Brazil has the third-highest potential for hydropower. The second-largest hydroelectric power plant in the world, measured by installed capacity, is the Itaipú Dam at the Paraná River. The dam covers more than 75 percent of the electricity demand in Paraguay and more than 16 percent in Brazil. In January 2015, a drought in Brazil led to severe energy shortages because the hydroelectric power plants were no longer supplied with sufficient water.

Brazil is heavily dependent on hydroelectric power plants for energy production. These in turn are subject to seasonal fluctuations. Thus, energy crises, price fluctuations and shortages can occur in months with little water. Besides, the construction of new hydroelectric power plants also means new burdens on the environment, such as flooding and changes in the ecosystem. It is therefore not surprising that the Brazilian government wants to diversify the current energy mix, which is mainly based on hydroelectric power, and to obtain energy from other renewable sources.

As we already know, most of the electrical energy consumed in the country comes from hydropower. Renewable energy sources such as biomass, wind and solar power are used as alternatives to hydroelectric power plants.

Wind energy in particular has achieved remarkable results in Brazil in recent years. In September this year, the total installed wind power capacity in Brazil was 16.3 gigawatts. Brazil's wind conditions are among the most productive in the world. New records are set every year, especially along the coast in the northeast. The wind is more intense from June to December and coincides with the months with less rainfall intensity. This makes wind a potentially complementary energy source to hydropower. There are 653 wind farms in Brazil today. Foreign investors have also promised high investments for the coming years.

Brazil's first wind turbine was installed in the Fernando de Noronha archipelago in 1992. Ten years later, the government created the "Program for the Promotion of Alternative Electric Sources" (Proinfa) to promote the use of other renewable energy sources such as wind power, biomass and small hydroelectric power plants. Since Proinfa was founded, Brazil's wind energy production has increased from 22 megawatts in 2003 to 602 megawatts in 2009 and over 8,700 megawatts by 2015.

The development of these wind energy sources in Brazil helps the country to achieve its strategic goals, increase energy security and create jobs. The potential for this type of power generation in Brazil could reach up to 145,000 megawatts according to the Brazilian Wind Power Potential Report 2001 of the Cepel Research Center for Electrical Energy.

Brazil has one of the highest levels of solar radiation in the world, with over 3,000 hours of sunshine per year. Total installed solar energy in Brazil was estimated at 3.87 gigawatts at the end of 2019, generating about 1.46 percent of the country's electricity needs, compared to 0.7 percent in 2018. In September 2020, according to ONS (Operador Nacional do Sistema Elétrico), the total installed photovoltaic solar energy capacity was 6.9 gigawatts.

The opening of three large solar parks in Brazil in 2017 strengthened the country's solar energy. The 292-megawatt Nova Olinda solar park in Piauí, the 254-megawatt Ituverava solar park in Bahia and the 158-megawatt Parque Solar Lapa solar park in Bahia are among the largest installations in the world. The total capacity of these three plants is more than ten times the total capacity installed throughout the country in 2015. Finally, in January 2020, the largest solar park in South America went online in the state of Piauí.

Energy production with biomass is taking up more and more space in the Brazilian energy matrix. For almost 9 percent of the electricity consumed in the country, biomass, i.e. the combustion of organic materials, provides the necessary energy. The most commonly used sources include sugarcane bagasse (78 percent), rice husks, wood chips and giant Chinese reed. It is also possible to use the gases produced during the decomposition or combustion of waste in specialized plants. The use of biomass energy is of fundamental importance for the development of new energy alternatives.

As you can see, the market for renewable energy in Brazil is growing steadily. Thanks to the many hours of sunshine and optimal wind conditions, Brazil is well placed to invest in these two sectors. If you want to enjoy the many hours of sunshine during your Brazil trip, we recommend the beautiful beaches in the northeast of Brazil.

Sources: brasilien.rio.ahk.de, www.abeeolica.org.br, www.epe.gov.br, www.ons.org.br, www.roedl.de