BALAJADIA, Arvin Jarell

TINAJA, Jan Carlo

UMBINA, Janella

ENERGY MIX IN BRAZIL THROUGHOUT THE YEARS

Contribution of the Different Energy Sources of Brazil.

Total primary energy demand has doubled in Brazil since 1990, led by strong growth in
electricity consumption and in demand for transport fuels on the back of robust economic
growth and a burgeoning middle class (IEA, 2017). 

Per capita electricity consumption in Brazil has grown strongly from under 1500 kWh/yr in 
1990 to around 2400 kWh/yr in 2016. 
  

Energy Supply in Brazil across time (1945 - 2015). 

Hydro

This is the main source of electricity Brazil due to its perfect geography (elevation changes)
and large resource of water. In the year 2016, it was said that hydroelectricity consists
around 50% of the said country’s energy mix

Nuclear

Natural Gas

With regards to natural gas industry, Brazil still has a lot of potential for growth. Brazil has
proved that their natural gas reserves as of 2014 were 464.1 bcm and they are currently
spread throughout the country. This total amount of proved natural gas reserves gives Brazil
the second most proved natural gas reserves in South America following Venezuela only.
Oil

Brazil is the largest oil producer in South America, the ninth largest global oil producer.

BIOFUELS

SOLAR/TIDE/WIND

COAL

Brazil uses its reserves of sub-bituminous coal as steam coal which is used as power-station
fuel and to power industrial plants. Moreover, since the coal readily available in Brazil is of
low quality, most of its coal are imported.

ENERGY SOURCE OBSERVATION CAUSE

Hydro -Drop in production around -There was major drought which

the years 2001 and 2015 removed almost 90% of the
water in the reservoir.

Nuclear -Spike in production during -Start of operation of Brazil’s first

1982 commercial nuclear reactor
-Sudden increase during -Angra 2 was commissioned
early 2000s with a net capacity of 1275 MW

Natural Gas Started importing gas in the In 1997, ANP (National

year 1998 Petroleum Agency) started
auctioning oil areas, giving 30
year-concessions and the right
to export oil. Contrary to
expectations, instead of using
the abundant gas reserves,

Sudden increase during
early 2000s
Considerable increase in the
rate of natural gas
production in 2009
Oil 2000 to 2002 - increasing
trend for oil production
2005 -
Biofuel 1995
-There was a sudden
increase in biofuel during
this year
Solar/Wind/Tide 2011-Continuous increase in
production
2015
-Brazil is expected to have a
large growth in solar energy
in the succeeding years.
2016
- There was a large increase
in solar energy in brazil. This
was followed by the creation
of other solar energy
Brazil invested heavily in Bolivia
and signed a contract in 1996 to
use their natural gas by
importing from them.
The large reserves of oil and
gas found between 2000 and
2002 in the basins of Campos
and Santos, in the Southeast of
Brazil.
The discovery of Brazil’s
offshore pre-salt hydrocarbon
raised the prospect of Brazil
becoming an LNG exporter. This
also reflects why after years
2007-2008, the rate of natural
gas production of Brazil has
considerably increased
compared to the previous years.
-Large reserves of oil and gas
were found in the basins of
Campos and Santos
-Conducted deep sea drilling
wherein they found pre salt oil
reserves.
-Brazil and USA are known as
the largest producers of
soybean, which is used as a
prime fuel.
Brazil is also known as a notable
producer of sugarcane-derived
ethanol. Sugarcane serves as
the second largest feedstock for
ethanol production
-Wind turbine production
capacity increased from
1100MW/yr to 3700MW/year
-There was a rise in solar
energy during 2015 due to the
decrease in the cost of
photovoltaic cells and the
increase in energy tariffs.
-Canadian Solar installed solar
 factories in the country. panels producing 400MW in
Sorocaba in Sao Paolo in 2016

Coal 1973 - Start of harnessing - Start of interest in using

energy from coal national coal due to oil shocks

1985 - Drop in the energy -The President of Brazil closed

production of coal
off coal mines after the end of
the military regime

References/Links used:

https://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/country-profiles/countries-a-f/brazil.aspx​\​htt
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m=iso&tlng=en

http://www.energyhistory.eu/fr/panorama/energy-brazil-historical-overview

Araujlo, K., et al (2017). ​Global Biofuels at the Crossroads: An Overview of Technical, Policy,
and Investment Complexities in the Sustainability of Biofuel Development.​ Retrieved from
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/315886270_Global_Biofuels_at_the_Crossroads_
An_Overview_of_Technical_Policy_and_Investment_Complexities_in_the_Sustainability_of_
Biofuel_Development

Tolmasquim, Mauricio Tiomno. (2012). The energy sector in Brazil: policy and Perspectives.
Estudos Avançados,​ ​26(​ 74), 247-260.
https://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0103-40142012000100017

https://www.oxfordenergy.org/publications/brazil-country-of-the-future-or-has-its-time-come-f
or-natural-gas/?v=a25496ebf095

https://www.worldenergy.org/data/resources/country/brazil/gas/

https://www.eia.gov/beta/international/analysis_includes/countries_long/Brazil/background2.
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