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Brazil Reaches 9,000 MW of Solar Energy: The Solution to the Brazilian Energy Crisis That Surpassed the Total Capacity of Coal-Fired Power Plants and Nuclear Power Plants

Written by Flavia Marinho
Published on 22/07/2021 at 07:36
energia - energia solar - preço - termelétrica a carvão - usina nuclear - energia nuclear - crise energética
Trabalhador em obra de usina solar – placa solar / Imagem Google
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Energy Crisis In Brazil Affects The Wallets Of Brazilians Who Are Facing Constant Increases In The Electricity Bill (The Aneel Increase Of 52% In Extra Fees On The Electricity Bill Is Now In Effect, Raising It To R$ 9.49 Per 100 kWh) And There Is A Possibility Of Blackouts.

Looking at the problem without presenting solutions doesn’t help much, which is why solar energy has been one of the main topics of discussion and investment in Brazil. According to Absolar, the source has brought more than R$ 46 billion in new investments, along with 270,000 jobs in less than ten years. Minas Gerais ranks first in the distributed generation ranking, with 9,154 generating plants, followed by Rio Grande do Sul, which currently has 82,619.22 kW installed, even surpassing the state of São Paulo, which occupies the third position on the list. Next are the states of Paraná, Santa Catarina, Ceará, Rio de Janeiro, Mato Grosso, Goiás, and Pernambuco.

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Amidst the worst hydrological recession in the last 90 years, authorities are discussing whether to have blackouts or implement energy rationing – a possibility enacted during the 2001 crisis. The consequences of both scenarios will be disastrous, especially with an increase in hospital deaths due to interruptions in the operation of devices; paralysis of industrial production – and lack of products; deficiencies in communication processes in general – without internet and telephony; and the inability of people to pay their bills and taxes.

Energy Crisis Affects Minas Gerais, Goiás, Mato Grosso Do Sul, São Paulo, And Paraná. And The Entire Brazil Is Already Paying More For The Electricity Bill

Five Brazilian states are under maximum emergency alert, according to the federal government: Minas Gerais, Goiás, Mato Grosso do Sul, São Paulo, and Paraná. And the entire Brazil is already paying more for the electricity bill. This is all because thermoelectric plants, which use gas and oil and therefore have higher generation costs, are activated. To give you an idea of the cost, since June 1st, the activation of the red flag, at level 2, represents R$ 6.24 for every 100 kWh. And the National Electric Energy Agency (Aneel) has decided on a 52% increase in extra fees on the electricity bill, raising it to R$ 9.49 per 100 kWh.

The justifications behind this situation, which already affects inflation and threatens economic growth, lie in the lack of rain, planning failures, and the operation of the electrical system, as well as the energy pricing model. However, as inventor and mechanical engineer Henry Ford taught, “Don’t find a defect, find a solution,” the key to this problem may be closer than it seems. “It’s in photovoltaic energy,” guarantees Tiago Sarneski, partner and owner of Entec Solar, a company specialized in the field, emphasizing that by the end of May, solar energy reached the mark of 9,000 megawatts of installed capacity.

According to a recent mapping by the Brazilian Association of Photovoltaic Solar Energy (Absolar), the state of Minas Gerais ranks first in the distributed generation ranking, with 9,154 generating plants; 938.1 megawatts in operation across residences, businesses, industries, rural properties, and public buildings, accounting alone for 18.1% of the entire Brazilian photovoltaic energy park. The “silver medal” goes to Rio Grande do Sul – where the demand for distributed generation is growing the most – which currently has 82,619.22 kW installed, even surpassing the state of São Paulo, which occupies the third position on the list, followed by the states of Paraná, Santa Catarina, Ceará, Rio de Janeiro, Mato Grosso, Goiás, and Pernambuco.

Solar Energy Has Surpassed The Sum Of The Capacity Of Coal Thermoelectric Plants, Nuclear Plants, And Brought Over R$ 46 Billion In New Investments, Generating Over 270 Thousand Jobs In Brazil!

“And the reasons to celebrate don’t stop there: reaching the mark of 9,000 megawatts, the energy of the sun is now greater than the total capacity of coal thermoelectric plants and even nuclear plants, which represent 5.6 gigawatts,” highlights Sarneski.

According to Absolar, since 2012, the source has brought more than R$ 46 billion in new investments and generated more than 270,000 jobs.

From the perspective of the specialist from Entec Solar, this is a very timely moment to discuss the topic for various reasons: the first is the risk of blackouts, followed by saving money for Brazilians. “Next, because the Bill No. 5,829 of 2019, which will establish the legal framework for photovoltaic energy in the country, is set to be analyzed in the National Congress, democratizing access to solar energy.”

Finally, he notes that there are many advantages to solar energy, such as “the low environmental impact, its simple installation, its negligible cost in relation to its useful life (over 25 years), and the fact that it can be used as a substitute for conventional electric power.”

Flavia Marinho

Flavia Marinho é Engenheira pós-graduada, com vasta experiência na indústria de construção naval onshore e offshore. Nos últimos anos, tem se dedicado a escrever artigos para sites de notícias nas áreas militar, segurança, indústria, petróleo e gás, energia, construção naval, geopolítica, empregos e cursos. Entre em contato com flaviacamil@gmail.com ou WhatsApp +55 21 973996379 para correções, sugestão de pauta, divulgação de vagas de emprego ou proposta de publicidade em nosso portal.

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