Electricity in Brazil. Renewable energy as a source of wealth

Brazil's energy complex is diverse and environmentally friendly. It includes 2065 stations. Most of them are hydroelectric plants, they produce 75% of the power. There are also thermoelectric, solar, wind and nuclear power plants. Electricity prices are set by tenders and the market is regulated by the National Electricity Agency.

Olga Melnikova

The country's generating capacity - 103,502 MW - has increased by 42% over the past nine years. According to forecasts, it will continue to grow: by 2013, the volume of energy supplied in Brazil will grow by another 19% compared to today's level. The existing infrastructure serves almost the entire population of the country.

Brazil produces more oil than it consumes, so the country's economy is little susceptible to price fluctuations for this type of fuel. As a world leader in deep-water oil exploration, the country is preparing for a meteoric rise in oil production. Recent studies of ultra-deep water reserves (7,000 m) show that Brazil's oil and gas reserves will at least double in the next few years and Brazil will become one of the top five exporters. The growth in production, coupled with the construction of new refineries, is also helping Brazil become self-sufficient in the use of petroleum-based products such as gasoline.

Brazil has the world's most advanced biofuel technology. Its model of producing ethanol from sugar cane is considered a role model by the UN. First of all, due to the lowest cost at the highest level of environmental safety of production. In terms of annual ethanol production, the country ranks second in the world - for example, 23.69 billion liters were produced from the 2009-2010 crop.

Oil and gas

Petrobras is investing heavily in science and technology in Brazil. In 2010, $993 million was allocated for research and development of oil fields - compared to 2009, investments increased by 30%. $276 million of this amount went to projects by universities and research institutes aimed at training, development and infrastructure.

At first, Brazil developed oil fields in the coastal zone, then developed shallow waters and gradually moved to deep water areas. In order to conquer new frontiers, the country is planning to build new ships and platforms and build 24 additional drilling rigs.

This requires significant investment. According to the company's plans, investments in oil production in Brazil will be increased to 57% compared to the original plans. Particular attention will be paid to oil production in the pre-salt layers, mainly in the Lula region.

The discovery of new deposits in the subsalt layers in 2007 opened up the potential for Brazil to export oil and gas. The company's partnership with international oil companies has been expanded. The largest foreign oil and gas companies received support from Petrobras and established their own research centers in Brazil. The country intends to further expand oil and gas production and expects the production of these energy sources to double by 2020.

According to a report published by the International Energy Agency in 2009, Brazil will become the sixth largest oil producer by 2030 at 3.4 million bpd. Brazil will only be surpassed by countries such as Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, Iran and Canada.

Other sources

Brazil's energy system is very diverse, environmentally friendly, and also includes renewable energy sources. The energy system includes hydroelectric power plants (75% of the sector), thermal power plants, solar, wind and nuclear power plants. The country occupies an important position in the production of natural gas: the actual reserves are 365 billion cubic meters. m, and the annual production is 10.28 billion cubic meters. Brazil is also the world's second largest producer of ethanol (after the United States) and the world's first producer of ethanol from sugar cane.

In Brazil, the two main liquid biofuels used are ethanol from sugar cane and, increasingly, biodiesel, which is made from vegetable oils or animal fat and added in varying proportions to petroleum diesel. At the moment, about 45% of the energy and 18% of the fuel consumed in Brazil are renewable. Worldwide, 86% of energy comes from non-renewable sources. Brazil has made great progress in the use of renewable energy sources and has already achieved in this area indicators that many countries that are in search of renewable energy alternatives to oil are only striving for.

Nuclear power

Brazil began developing nuclear energy in the early 1950s, when the federal government began to control the export of nuclear minerals, proven reserves and strategic reserves, and to stimulate the development of national technologies in this sector. In 1956, the National Nuclear Energy Commission (CNEN) was created. She is currently responsible for ensuring the safe and peaceful use of nuclear energy, as well as Brazil's nuclear policy.

The Angra 1 and Angra 2 nuclear power plants produce about 4% of Brazil's electricity. In the healthcare sector, 2.1 million medical procedures involving radioactive substances are performed each year.

Nuclear technologies are also widely used in Brazilian industry, for example in the radiography of metals and the sterilization of various materials. The agricultural sector uses food irradiation to increase the shelf life of meat and vegetables.

Three ministries are responsible for Brazil's nuclear sector: the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy, and the Ministry of Defense. Recently, Brazil has taken an important step forward in the development of the nuclear sector.

Navy-led research with CNEN has developed uranium enrichment technology, a nuclear power generation step that Brazil is undertaking overseas. Power plants that will enrich uranium on an industrial scale are currently under construction. Thanks to this, Brazil will become an independent state in this area of ​​energy as well.

biofuel

Biofuel is a renewable energy source that is produced from agricultural materials and other organic matter. In Brazil, sugarcane, vegetable oils and animal fats are used to produce bioethanol and biodiesel.

These products are also interesting for Brazil from the point of view of the country's security, because they reduce its dependence on imported oil, and also reduce environmental problems, since the use of such fuel minimizes the impact of emissions of combustion products into the atmosphere and the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Biodiesel fuel can completely or partially replace diesel fuel burned in engines and generators. This fuel can be used both in pure form and in mixtures.

Interesterification is a common manufacturing process. It involves a chemical reaction between vegetable oils or animal fats and ordinary alcohol (ethanol) or methanol, which is enhanced by a catalyst. As a result, glycerin is also extracted, a product that is widely used in the chemical industry. In addition to glycerin, the batch production of biodiesel produces many other by-products (cake, flour, etc.) that can increase volume and provide alternative important sources of income for producers.

Currently in Brazil, two types of ethanol are used as fuel for engines: hydrous (alcohol in cars, known as flexible fuel) and dehydrated (in gasoline, 25% content). The first type contains 7% water in the mixture, the second - a maximum of 0.7%. In Brazil, ethanol is produced by the fermentation of sugarcane juice.

Other countries use corn (US and China), beets (in the EU), cassava, wheat and grapes. Brazilian sugar cane bioethanol has certain advantages over other products: low cost of raw materials, higher yields and the use of renewable, reliable first generation technologies.

That is why Brazil promotes the research and development of renewable energy and clean and efficient energy technologies through the Brazilian Biodiesel Technology Network and the work of the National Bioethanol Research and Technology Laboratory, which is a global benchmark for bioethanol technology. These organizations are working to produce biofuels, achieve greater processing efficiency and use by-products.

Sugarcane, vegetable oils and animal fats are used to produce bioethanol and biodiesel

Electricity

In addition to biofuels (ethanol and biodiesel), Brazil also uses other renewable energy sources such as electricity (mainly hydro) and hydrogen. To increase production capacity based on alternative sources, Brazil promotes the integrated and cooperative development of science, technology and innovation in the fields of electricity, hydrogen and renewable energy.

About 20% of the world's electricity comes from hydropower. The top five producing countries are Canada, the United States, Brazil, China and Russia. In Brazil, which ranks third on this list, installed hydropower consumption accounts for 77% of the country's entire energy system. In view of the strategic importance of renewable energy for Brazil, they see a particular need to create programs to develop new technologies for the production, transmission, distribution and end use of electricity. Activities in this direction are carried out and coordinated by the Ministry of Science and Technology within the framework of the Development and Innovation Plan.

Brazil has made significant progress in research into the use of hydrogen energy. Hydrogen is the most abundant chemical element in the universe, is non-toxic and reduces greenhouse gas emissions and atmospheric emissions in the form of smoke and soot. However, there are also negative aspects of its use: the extremely high cost of hydrogen production, its transportation and delivery. Developments are directed mainly to the oil sector and the chemical industry. Since 1999, the Ministry of Science and Technology (MCT) has been considering reforming the use of ethanol for hydrogen production to secure a potential market in Brazil and Latin America. This strategic interest on the part of MCT has spurred joint research programs and international collaborations, for example between the Brazilian Center for Biofuels and DDB Fuel Cell Engines GmbH.

Energy production in Brazil

Oil production in 2010

2.18 million bar/day

Electricity in 2010

Total consumption - 505,684 GWh

Natural gas in 2010

69 million cubic meters m/day

Subsalt layer

65.2 thousand bar / day and 2.312 million cubic meters. m/day of natural gas

Biodiesel in 2010

Ethanol in 2010

27.9 billion liters

power plants

Hydroelectric power plants - 887

Gas — 129

On biomass - 389

Oil — 866

Nuclear - 2

Coal — 9

Wind turbines - 50

Solar - 4

Brazil has become one of the leaders in the production and use of biofuels. Reuters photo

In mid-September 2015, another Russian-Brazilian business forum was held in Moscow, within which it was decided that the countries would develop investment projects in the energy and green economy sectors. New opportunities for expanding cooperation are opening up through the BRICS Business Council, within which working groups on infrastructure, as well as on energy and green economy, have been established and are successfully functioning.

Russia has a good potential for developing cooperation and forming technological alliances with Brazil in such science-intensive areas as nuclear and alternative energy. There are already examples of successful cooperation projects in the energy sector, in particular, the localization of the production of electric power equipment in Brazil. Namely, OJSC Power Machines, which manufactures equipment for hydraulic, thermal, gas and nuclear power plants for the transmission and distribution of electricity, as well as transport and railway equipment in order to strengthen its presence in Latin America, and acquired a 51% stake in Fezer S / A Industrias Mecanicas (Brazil) for the production of hydro turbines. Fezer will be renamed Power Machines Fezer S/A and partly restructured. In Brazil, by the end of 2021, it is planned to commission about 30 GW of new capacities, including the renewal of the fleet of existing HPPs. OJSC Power Machines plans to localize the production of hydroturbine equipment in Brazil, organize its assembly and sale in the region, as well as manage projects and service maintenance of equipment for hydropower plants.

The balance of consumption of primary resources in Russia and Brazil is completely different. Russia receives 75% of its energy from hydrocarbon sources. Our country uses only about 20% of its economic hydropower potential. And if we talk about small hydropower, then only about 1% of its Russian potential is currently being exploited. Brazil, the world's second largest producer of hydroelectricity, gets 86% of its electricity from water. More than 450 dams have been built in the country, including the Itaipu Dam, which produces more than 92 billion kWh per year, more than any other hydroelectric power plant. The hydropower cascade on the Parana River (HPP Itaipu, Yasireta and Akaray) is considered the largest not only in Latin America, but also in the world. The last major hydropower plant to be built in Brazil is the Belo Monte hydropower plant. After the completion of the construction, the hydroelectric power plant will become the third in the world after the Chinese "Three Gorges" on the Yangtze River and the Brazilian "Itaipu" on the Parana River.

Currently, Brazil is focused on the development of small hydropower, which is not so catastrophic in terms of its environmental consequences, since the construction of small hydropower plants does not flood a vast territory, the natural landscape is preserved, and the inhabitants of the Amazonian jungle have the opportunity to continue to lead their traditional way of life. There are also significantly more players in the market for equipment for small hydropower plants than in the market for units for large dams, so customers have a wide choice of technical solutions and suppliers.

Russia and Brazil are similar in what they do not have, the underdevelopment of the alternative energy sector. Today, there is a growing need for promising ways to generate energy through renewable resources. Recall that, according to the federal law on electric power industry, renewable sources (RES) include the energy of the sun, wind, water, including wastewater (with the exception of cases of its use at pumped-storage electric power plants), the energy of tides, waves of water bodies, including reservoirs, rivers, seas, oceans; geothermal energy using natural underground heat carriers, low-grade thermal energy of the earth, air, water using special heat carriers; biomass, including specially grown plants, including trees, as well as production and consumption waste, except for those obtained in the process of using hydrocarbon raw materials and fuel; biogas, gas produced by coal mines. The growing interest in RES is associated with a steady increase in energy consumption, as well as with an increase in greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. Most renewable energy systems only contribute to greenhouse gas emissions when they are manufactured and emit no (or negligible) CO2 during their operation. Fossil fuels are limited and their use pollutes the environment.

There are technologies for the transition to renewable energy sources. The volume of energy from renewable sources and existing technologies already today make it possible to fully provide humanity with the necessary energy. Brazil, by the way, is not only the largest producer of hydropower, but also hosts one of the largest renewable energy programs in the world, associated with the production of fuel ethanol from sugar cane. Ethyl alcohol currently covers 18% of the country's need for automotive fuel.

The share of renewable energy in the total electricity generation in Russia is only about 0.9%, despite the fact that our country has enormous resources. Such an insignificant role of alternative energy in the Russian Federation at the moment is explained by a number of factors, not least among which are the high capital costs for the construction of renewable energy facilities and the lack of specific financial mechanisms for state support. The reduction in the price of generating kWh of renewable or, as it is also called, regenerative energy, as well as the constantly growing energy consumption, will certainly and logically lead to an impetus for the development of an alternative to the use of hydrocarbons.

The idea of ​​saving energy consumption is another important step aimed at overcoming the dependence of mankind on non-renewable natural reserves of hydrocarbons. It is important not only to develop the missing more environmentally friendly ways of generating electricity, but also to increase the potential for energy saving, that is, to engage directly in saving. According to forecasts made in 2011 by the International Energy Agency (IEA), global annual electricity consumption between 2009 and 2035 will increase by more than 1.8 times - from 17,200 TWh per year to more than 31,700 TWh per year with an annual growth rate of 2.4%. At the same time, according to statistics, about 15–20% of electricity, and in some cases up to 40%, is simply a waste that could be easily avoided without worsening the quality of life and habits of households.

The introduction of RES should go hand in hand with the introduction of the latest technical innovations in energy efficiency. These changes will diversify the fuel and energy complexes of both countries and create a more environmentally friendly electricity generation profile. Now both in Russia and Brazil there is a weak development of the alternative energy sector, in both countries there is a growing need to develop ways to generate energy from renewable resources. By joint efforts, the parties will be able to achieve visible results faster - the potential for developing cooperation in science-intensive areas is huge, there are enough examples of successful jointly implemented projects: these are joint technological developments, localization of production, and the introduction of foreign products to new markets. The only thing left to do is to attract investments both from the states and from private individuals and business representatives.

Unfortunately, Brazil's unprecedented success in the use of "green" electricity turned out to be a fiction of journalists. An analysis of the primary source - National Energy Balance Report, posted on the Brazil's Energy Research Company website, dispels all illusions. The basis of renewable energy sources is hydrogeneration, which accounts for 75% of electricity generated, as well as energy imports from Paraguay, which is 7% of the energy balance.

hydropower only at first glance looks safe for the environment. For the creation of hydroelectric power plants, flooding of vast territories is required. To create reservoirs, Brazil is destroying forests in the Amazon. Leadership in the use of hydropower turns into the first place in deforestation. Conservationists are sounding the alarm - according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, in the period from 1990 to 2005 alone, the forest area in Brazil decreased from 520 million hectares to 477 million hectares. Brazil's plans to create new hydropower plants leave no chance of preserving the country's unique natural resources.

The second most important renewable energy source is import from neighboring countries. The main supplier of electricity is Paraguay, which also receives electricity from hydroelectric power plants. For nature, there are no state borders, Paraguay's hydro generation destroys nature in the same way as it happens in Brazil.

Other energy sources such as reed burning or wind power account for a small share of the balance. Electricity generation from windmills has indeed shown impressive growth, increasing by 24.2% over the year, but its share does not even reach half a percent of total electricity generation.

The Federative Republic of Brazil is the largest country in terms of area and population, with its capital in Brasilia. Administratively, Brazil is divided into 26 states and the Capital Federal District.

Renewable Energy in Brazil

Brazil's renewable energy investment fell 4% in 2016 to $6.9 billion.

Prospects for Renewable Energy in Brazil

Rapid growth in energy capacity until 2050 Brazil's withdrawal from thermal generation. will still have a share of 43% of the total, but generation will also grow rapidly.

Brazil's renewable energy policy

Brazil's 10-year Energy Expansion Plan

In early autumn 2015, the Brazilian government released an ambitious plan for the development of the country's energy industry until 2024 - a 10-year energy expansion plan (Plano Decenal de Expansão de Energia - PDE), prepared by the state-owned energy market research company EPE.

According to this document, the total energy generation in Brazil will grow by 55%, from 132.9 GW in 2014 to 206.4 GW in 2024, while the number of installed renewable energy capacities will increase from 111.3 GW in 2014 to 173 .4 GW in 2024 (including hydropower from 89.8 GW to 117 GW, wind power from 5 GW to 23.9 GW and solar, biomass, other types of renewable energy from 16.2 GW to 32.6 GW respectively). Growth in ethanol production is expected from the current 29 billion liters in 2014 to 44 billion liters in 2024, which implies an annual growth in consumption of this type of fuel at the level of 2.3%.

The National Energy Policy Council is the supreme body of power in Brazil, established in August 1997, whose task is to advise the country's president on the development of a national energy policy. The heads of the Council are the Minister of Natural Resources and Energy, and most of its members are ministers of the Brazilian federal government.

Brazilian Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy (MME)

The Brazilian Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy is the main body of the Brazilian energy sector, acting on behalf of the federal government and responsible for developing regulatory policy in the industry.

Brazilian National Electricity Agency (Agência Nacional de Energia Elétrica, ANEEL)

The National Electricity Agency of Brazil is an autonomous government body associated with the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources. The main task of the agency is to regulate and control the energy sector in accordance with the policy determined by the Ministry. One of the functions assigned to ANEEL is holding tenders for the construction of renewable energy projects.

Brazilian National Power System Operator (ONS)

The National Power System Operator (ONS) is a private, not-for-profit legal body founded in 1998 and made up of companies involved in the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity. Its main task is to coordinate and control the generation and transmission of energy together with ANEEL.

Brazilian Electricity Commercialization Chamber (Câmara de Comercialização de Energia Elétrica, CCEE)

The main task of the Brazilian Electricity Commercialization Chamber (CCEE) is to determine the commercial feasibility of developing an energy project, as well as to conduct auctions for the purchase and sale of electricity. The Chamber deals with the registration of all long-term contracts for the supply of energy, as well as the regulation of the short-term open electricity market.

Brazilian Energy Market Research Company (Empresa de Pesquisa Energética, EPE)

The Energy Market Research Company (Empresa de Pesquisa Energética, EPE) was founded by decree of the federal government in August 2004 to carry out energy research to better plan and guide national policies by regulators. One of the functions of the company is to hold auctions for the construction of renewable energy facilities.

Commission for the Control of the Brazilian Energy Sector (CMSE)

The Energy Sector Control Commission was established by federal government decree in August 2004, which is chaired and coordinated by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Energy and consists of representatives from the National Electricity Agency, the National Petroleum Industry Agency, the Electricity Commercialization Chamber, the Energy Market Research Company and the National power system operators.

Solar power in Brazil

Getting energy from off-grid solar panels on rooftops in the segment of private households will account for about 20% of the entire Brazilian energy market by 2040, according to BNEF in the same report.

Wind power in Brazil

Wind power is the fastest growing source of electricity in Brazil. As of the beginning of 2016, Brazil is ranked among the top five global leaders in the power generation segment, with a total wind capacity of 2.6 GW. Brazil built 2.5 GW of new ones in 2016, according to .

In accordance with the government's 10-year energy expansion plan, the number of installed wind capacities is expected to increase to 23.9 GW by 2024, which will be about 11% of the total electricity generated. As of mid-2016, contracts for the construction of almost half of this number have already been concluded. Investment in this area over the next three years is expected to reach 60 billion Brazilian reais (about 20 billion US dollars).

Hydropower in Brazil

In 2016, Brazil added 5 GW of new ones, according to .

About 44% of the total energy produced in Brazil comes from renewable sources.

For a long time, Brazil was the world leader in the production of ethanol from sugar cane. After the boom of bioethanol in the world in 2006, Brazil became also its largest exporter. Brazil produces about 16.5 billion liters of bioethanol per year and exports about 2.0 billion liters of ethanol. In Brazil, renewable fuels account for about 20% of all transport use.

In the 1970s, at the height of the First Middle East Oil Crisis, the Brazilian government launched the National Fuel Alcohol Program. In general, the implementation of this program turned out to be quite simple. Brazil is also the world's largest producer of sugar from sugar cane. Nevertheless, the federal government does everything possible to help private businesses operate under this program, including through various tax incentives and preferences. Other methods to support bioethanol producers in Brazil include the mandatory content of bioethanol in gasoline at the level of 20% - 25%. With over 600,000 new cars sold in Brazil in calendar year 2005, there is more than enough market for bioethanol.

In Brazil, bioethanol is produced from sugar cane, which is an ideal raw material for the production of hydrocarbon (alcohol) through fermentation. One ton of sugar cane contains 145 kg of dry hydrocarbon (bagasse) and 138 kg of sucrose (i.e. sugar). In the production of bioethanol from sugar cane, the whole cane is fully utilized, which makes it possible to produce 72 liters of ethanol from one ton of cane.

At the moment, all automotive companies in Brazil are required to produce cars with engines for bioethanol in a ratio of 70 to 30, i.e. 7 out of ten new cars should be designed for armored mixtures. More than 75% of Brazilian cars are hybrid, i.e. can be started at any concentration of ethanol and gasoline in the mixture. The incentive for consumers to use ethanol is its cheap price, which is provided by government subsidies.

In the near future, the possibility of a significant increase in the export of Brazilian bioethanol to Canada, where the import duty is only 4.92 Canadian cents per liter, is being considered.

On October 30, 2002, Brazil introduced its new diesel program for the production and use of biodiesel in Brazil. The program is designed for the use of pure and impurity vegetable oils, in particular from soy. Also, the Brazilian government has passed a law that requires the use of biodiesel at a rate of 2% by the end of 2007 (about 800 million liters per year) and at a rate of 20% by 2020 (12 billion liters per year).

Asset-based financing totaled $1.4 billion, dominated by investments in ethanol projects.

In 2006 not a single venture capital investment in alternative energy was registered. This is due to a series of financial crises in the country over the past 25 years, which have significantly undermined investor confidence.

However, for 2007 two major deals can already be noted. The Brazilian Renewable Energy Company has received $200 million from venture capitalists to build a 1 billion gallon ethanol plant in Sao Paulo. Clean Energy Brazil has invested $130 million in ethanol producer Usaciga to develop fuel-efficient plants.

These transactions can be called a turning point in attracting private investment in alternative energy in Brazil.

Wind energy (as well as other alternative sources in general) is not expected to take a significant place in the Brazilian market, despite the recent decision to remove 60% of import tariffs on installations to receive it.