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According to Second Professor of USP and Former Minister of Education, There Are 5 Energy Segments in the Country That Stand Out Over Any European Country
Despite the tense geopolitical situation in Europe, where the conflict between Russia and Ukraine has caused a crisis in oil and gas in other countries on the continent, the former Minister of Education and professor at the Institute of Energy and Environment at the University of São Paulo (USP) José Goldemberg states that Brazil is relatively less affected by this crisis because it uses so little gas and generates much of its own energy (50% of which comes from renewable sources).
According to the specialist, countries are turning to “energy nationalism” to reduce their dependence on imports as a result of changes in the supply and price of oil and gas. This is where renewable energy sources come in; in this regard, Brazil is already ahead of Europe.
Increases in Exports Could Make Brazil Thrive Energetically
Goldemberg concludes that increasing exports of biomass products and developing alternative energy sources, such as hydropower, wind energy, and solar energy, are viable options for the country’s continued prosperity.
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Research reveals that the vast majority of national consumers are not willing to pay more for renewable energy despite their support for sustainability.
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Brazil’s exports to the U.S. plunge for the eighth consecutive time, while China expands its leadership, and this is changing the landscape of foreign trade in 2026.
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The Federal Government wants to curb family indebtedness and is considering releasing FGTS with a renegotiation that could cut up to 80% of debts for families and individual micro-entrepreneurs (MEIs).
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‘Theory of the Madman’ is the strategy that explains why Trump threatened to end Iran and hours later offered a two-week truce as if nothing had happened.
Bookman Publishing, a division of +A Educação, will launch the Brazilian version of “The New Map,” a new book by Daniel Yergin, the world’s leading expert on the subject, in early February. Goldemberg is currently the content curator and consultant for +A Educação. Bringing the topic to discussions now is essential for avoiding regression in the country, states the former minister, cited as a precursor of ethanol in Brazil as an alternative to the oil crisis of the 1970s in Yergin’s book “The Prize.” This is because there are national economic groups interested in expanding gas as an energy source, which would increase dependence on foreign sources. “It was Yergin who made it clear that the 1970s were not the end of oil. A crucial contribution to implementing an effective energy policy, the expert’s latest book discusses the impact of the conflict in Ukraine on renewable energy sources.
- Goldemberg Predicts the Following Five Developments in Brazil Over the Coming Years:
Solar and Wind Energy
First, it is crucial to invest money in renewable energy, such as solar and wind. In light of projections that renewable energy will account for 60% of global energy production by 2050 and have the potential to meet 80% of global demand, investments in these areas should be prioritized. Intermittency is a significant issue for solar and wind energy (no sun at night and wind all the time, for example). And that is why they need to be combined with another renewable energy source: hydropower plants, the gold standard for energy storage and a significant improvement over batteries.
Hydropower Plants
According to the latest forecast from GolbalData (2021), hydropower plants will continue to expand, potentially representing 58% of Brazil’s power grid by 2030. Besides being a sustainable energy option, Belo Monte can be avoided, and the sector can grow in Brazil as long as due precautions are taken.
Oil
Oil is used as a raw material for producing diesel and gasoline, but the country does not use oil, gas, or coal to generate electricity like European countries do. This presents a paradox. Although it is self-sufficient in oil production, the government has not invested as much as it should in refineries, which forces it to export crude oil and buy gasoline, leaving prices dependent on the dollar. Products that rely on road transport, such as food, would be significantly impacted by price increases resulting from building more refineries and the country’s greater ability to set its own prices.
Ethanol
This renewable fuel is still a viable alternative to gasoline. Sugarcane is the primary ingredient of ethanol and is not grown everywhere, so the export method for Brazil could be a profitable move.
Railways
As we rely exclusively on oil for transportation in the form of cars and trucks, it is vital that we develop a strategy for the introduction and growth of railways in the country to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and, therefore, lower transportation costs, especially for “commodities” like soybeans.
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