National Energy Grid
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Full Size Map National Electricity Transmission Grid of Brazil(35 kb) |
GRID SUMMARY
Brazil has installed electric capacity of 73.4 million kilowatts, 85% of which is hydropower (as of January 1, 2001). Of the 321.2 billion kilowatthours (bkwh) generated in Brazil in 2001, 83% was from hydropower (down from 91% in 1999). Brazil ranks consistently as one the world's top hydropower producers. Together with Paraguay, Brazil maintains the world's largest operational hydroelectric complex, the Itaipu facility on the Paraná River, with a capacity of 12,600 megawatts (MW). Brazil's remaining electricity generation capacity comes from coal and an increasing amount from natural gas. Brazil's small northern and larger southern electrical grids were joined in January 1999 into one grid that serves 98% of the country. Brazil's domestic supply is augmented by imports from neighboring Argentina.
Renewable Energy
Renewable energy likely will continue to play an
important role in Brazil's electrification plans.
High oil prices, electrical shortages and air
pollution problems have led to the development
of several projects designed for environmentally
sustainable development in rural areas. Ethanol,
biomass, hydroelectricity, wind and solar power
generation are to be the main sources for rural
electrification projects throughout the country.
Proinfa Alternative Electricity Sources
Program
In April 2002, the Brazilian government passed
Law 10.438 (or Proinfa). Proinfa is an energy program
designed to stimulate
development of biomass cogeneration, wind, small
hydro generators by guaranteeing power sale contracts
to the first 3300 MW of projects which use these
technologies. Under the program, Electrobrás
will buy electricity produced from the different
renewable resources under contracts up to 15 years.
In July 2003, the Brazilian Ministry of Energy
and Mines published preliminary prices for power
to be purchased through the Proinfa program. The
government did not indicate when these prices would
be definite.