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ARTICLE

perspectives for
as fontes renewable energy energy in Brazil

ENNIO PERES DA SILVA
CARLA KAZUE NAKAO CAVALIERO

O Interest in energy generation from renewable sources, especially alternatives (solar energy, wind energy, biomass) has been experiencing a new phase of growth in Brazil. Until recently, environmental appeal was the only argument used to encourage such sources, however, it was not sufficient to achieve its objective. With the electricity crisis and the rationing plan experienced in 2001, attention was drawn to another important factor: the need to diversify energy sources. As a result, legal mechanisms have been created to regulate the use of these sources, such as the law that creates the Incentive Program for Alternative Electricity Sources, better known as PROINFA. This program aims, among other things, to encourage the generation of electrical energy from wind energy, biomass and small hydroelectric plants.

Despite some controversial points, this law brings good prospects, since in the case of wind energy, for example, there is great potential for use in the Northeast and Rio Grande do Sul. Furthermore, what is not lacking in the country is energy biomass, which highlights sugar cane and the 318 sugar and alcohol plants currently operating. The same can be said about the hydraulic generation potential, especially for plants that flood smaller areas and reduce environmental impact, such as micro and small hydroelectric plants. But if there is so much potential, one may question why such sources still remain unrepresentative.

The problem is that in general renewable energies, with the exception of hydroelectric energy, cost more, which is to be expected, as they cause much fewer environmental problems. Hence the need for specific incentives that increase economic competitiveness, and preferably that they are minimal, since it is the consumer who will pay for them. Evidently, this requires the political will of the Federal Government to proceed in this way, defining explicit guidelines. In this sense, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's victory for the Presidency of the Republic seems to reinforce this thought, since among the government programs presented by the main candidates, the PT's was the one that most highlighted the use of renewable energy sources.

In fact, among the various themes relating to the energy sector, the program included the encouragement of alternative renewable sources, whose proposals are centered on the implementation of a regionalized policy and mechanisms to develop a national equipment industry for the exploration of such sources, which are currently largely imported. The announcement by senator Marina Silva, from the PT of Acre, for the Ministry of Environment seems to reinforce the party's commitment to environmental issues.

The nomination of a name from the PT bench itself for a ministry that is traditionally negotiable, that is, considered less strategic than others, signals the prioritization of this topic by the future government. This fact can be very favorable to stimulating renewable sources, which are relatively less impactful than large hydroelectric and thermoelectric generations. Therefore, in principle, President Luis Inácio's government shows its intention to promote the increase and development of the use of renewable energy sources in the country. It remains to be seen whether this intention will actually become reality, which only time will tell.

Professor Ennio Peres da Silva and researcher Carla Kazue Nakao Cavaliero belong to the Interdisciplinary Center for Energy Planning (NIPE) at Unicamp

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