Renewable Energy: Commitment in Speech and Hesitation in Practice

Written by Paulo H. S. Nogueira

Published on 17/11/2025 at 09:27

Updated on 17/11/2025 at 18:16

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76% of Brazilians support renewable energy, but only 26% actually adopt it — understand why

Renewable energy has become one of the most discussed topics in Brazil in recent years. However, despite a broad discourse of support, practice is moving slowly.

The Gap Between Intention and Reality

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According to the ESG Trends 2025 study conducted by Demanda Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento de Mercado, 76% of Brazilians claim that renewable energy is essential for the country’s future.
However, only 26% say they use some clean source at home, as reported by Metrópoles in 2024.

This contrast reveals a profound difference between what the population believes and what they actually do in their daily lives.
According to Sílvio Pires de Paula, president of Demanda, this gap demonstrates that Brazilians support the environmental cause but encounter barriers that hinder change.

Moreover, according to Metrópoles, this difference of 50 percentage points is the largest recorded among the 24 sustainable habits evaluated in the survey.

This is a striking piece of data because it places clean energy at the center of environmental, economic, and social discussions in the country.

Obstacles That Hinder the Advancement of Renewable Energy

Immediately after the study was released, experts began to point out the reasons for this gap between theory and practice.
Among them is engineer Rodrigo Porto from the University of Brasília (UnB), who stated to Metrópoles in 2024 that Brazil’s electrical grids are not fully prepared to receive decentralized energy on a large scale.

He explained that, despite the country’s solar and wind potential, the infrastructure is still adjusting to this new reality.
This means that many families wish to install solar panels but face technical, regulatory, and financial difficulties.

Additionally, the expert explained that there is a strong educational component, as part of the population believes that “Brazil is already doing enough.”
This mindset arises because the country already has a matrix considered clean, which can create the false impression that individual effort does not make a difference.

At the same time, Francisco Moreira, sustainability coordinator at COP30, stated to the portal that the initial cost of renewable energy still weighs heavily.
According to him, many Brazilians wish to adopt sustainable practices but cannot invest in photovoltaic systems without financial support.

This combination of factors creates a scenario in which the desire exists, but execution does not materialize.

Historical Context: How Brazil Became a Reference in Renewables

To understand this scenario, we need to look at the history of renewable energy in the country.

According to the Federal Government, Brazil has had a predominantly renewable matrix for over 50 years, primarily due to the expansion of hydropower plants throughout the 20th century.
Nevertheless, since the 2000s, the country has been diversifying its sources.

According to data published on the government website in 2023, Brazil achieved 93% renewable electricity generation that year, comprising hydropower, wind, solar, and biomass.

Additionally, according to USP, the Alternative Energy Sources Incentive Program (PROINFA) has boosted the growth of wind and biomass sources since 2002.
The university also highlights that, between 2004 and 2012, Brazil actively participated in the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) established in the Kyoto Protocol, which accelerated green projects.

This historical path explains why Brazil has so much potential.
However, despite this journey, there is still a significant challenge in democratizing access.

The Influence of the Economy and Public Policies

Although renewable energy has grown rapidly in the country, the economy still plays a decisive role.
According to the National Electric Energy Agency (ANEEL), the average cost of installing residential solar systems has fallen in recent years, but still requires significant investment.

Therefore, public incentives become essential.
Moreira from COP30 explained to Metrópoles that credit lines, tax exemptions, and incentive policies are crucial to transform the population’s interest into concrete action.

According to him, beyond the financial aspect, awareness also needs to grow, as sustainability only becomes a habit when there is accessible and continuous information.

A Possible — and Necessary — Future

Even though adoption is slow, experts argue that Brazil has unique conditions to lead global transformation.
According to Rodrigo Porto from UnB, all it takes is for governments, companies, and citizens to work together to bridge the gap that still persists.

The country has abundant sunlight.
It has constant winds.
And it has diverse sources that can make renewable energy increasingly accessible.

For this reason, experts insist that information, public policy, and cultural changes must go hand in hand.
Only then will discourse finally transform into practice.

Renewable Energy: Commitment in Speech and Hesitation in Practice

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Renewable Energy: Commitment in Speech and Hesitation in Practice

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Forget petroleum-based asphalt: a Scottish company transforms 684,000 plastic bottles into one kilometer of road that is 60% more resistant and up to 10 times more durable, and the technology has already started replacing traditional asphalt in more than 30 countries.

China is building an artificial island in the middle of the sea, covering 20 km², to construct the largest offshore airport in the world, the Dalian Jinzhouwan. This $4.3 billion project is anchored on more than 3,000 pillars embedded in the rock beneath the ocean and is scheduled to open in 2035.

Austrian engineers have developed an inflatable concrete technology that transforms flat slabs into domes using only air pressure, eliminating scaffolding and temporary forms, and potentially changing the way bridges, tunnels, and curved roofs are constructed worldwide.

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Spain installs two giant pipelines 2.2 km off the coast to draw water from the Mediterranean and supply a megafacility capable of producing 200 million liters of drinking water per day.

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