Within the global context, Brazil remains one of the highlights in generating energy from renewable sources, that is, those energy matrices with low environmental impact. Brazil is ahead of many countries when it comes to sustainable energy efficiency.
According to data from the International Energy Agency (IEA), Brazil is the third largest generator of renewable energy – which does not release waste or polluting gases into the atmosphere – as well as the third largest producer of hydropower in the world. “Brazil has a predominantly renewable electricity matrix, with hydropower generation accounting for 68.1% of the internal supply,” says a report from the Energy Research Company (EPE).
As a consequence of this predominance, especially from water energy, there was a 28.1% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 2015 to 2016. “Brazil remains a leader among countries with the highest share of renewable sources in its matrix and, consequently, low levels of emissions,” the document points out.
Wind Energy
These efforts to further diversify the energy matrix and make it cleaner are evidenced by the remarkable growth of wind energy in Brazil. A survey by the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) shows that the country is the eighth largest producer of wind energy in the world. Today, there are more than 500 wind farms in operation.
Cheaper Energy
Not only are renewable energies advantageous for the environment, but they are also cheaper for consumers. An example of this is the flag system implemented by the National Electric Energy Agency (Aneel).
When there is a shortage of rain and dry spells, it is necessary for thermoelectric plants to be activated to maintain the supply of electricity in the country. However, in addition to being more polluting, these plants are more costly to operate, causing the red flag to be triggered, resulting in an extra cost on energy tariffs.
Biofuels
Brazil is not only a leader in clean energy production but also in biofuels. Primarily influenced by ethanol, Brazil is the second largest producer of biofuels in the world, according to data from the global statistics portal, Statista. In 2016, Brazil produced 18.5 million tons of oil equivalent barrels.
This scenario is only expected to improve. To encourage the production of biofuels and comply with the Paris Agreement, the government enacted the law that creates RenovaBio, a new regulatory framework for biofuels.
Source: Government of Brazil