Erik Eduardo Rego

Shale Gas and the Replacement of Coal-Fired Power Plants

This article aims to analyze the role played by the shale gas supply in the substitution of coal-fired power plants by gas-fired systems in the USA and the possible implications for the Brazilian electricity generation sector. It is known that energetic resources availability affects the energy demand and its end-use. An example of this was the American shale gas boom, a process that peaked around 2005. By studying the economical and environmental contexts that guided this so called revolution, with oil and gas productions, prices, and changes in the numbers of thermal power plants and in the installed capacity by type, we were able to question the role of the natural gas as a driving force to effective changes towards a low carbon future and discuss potential benefits its adoption.

The Transition to Bicycle Mobility: Energetic Impacts Analysis ‑ The Case of São Paulo

A great number of cities have been investing in cycling infrastructure, expecting reduction in air pollution, traffic jams and increased life quality indicators. However, the reduction of fuel and thus primary energy consumption is a positive externality rarely taken into account. The present article aims to analyse the energetic benefits due to the construction of urban cycling infrastructure in Sao Paulo, Brazils major city, as it increases the use of bycicles as a mobility alternative to private cars and buses. Assuming a scenario of occupation rate of the total cycling infrastructure expected until the end of 2016, and adopting local data regarding the average distance travelled by bicycle, it is possible to infer the amount of fuel avoided. In conclusion, there is a significant potential for primary energy conservation, although the amount of investments is still insufficient in comparison to other cities in the world and International Agencies recommendations.

Positive externalities from the complementarity of wind and hydro power generation in Brazil

This article estimates how much the wind farms in operation contributed to the preservation of reservoir levels in the years 2013, 2014 and 2015 in Brazil, due to the complementarity between the wind and water. Additionally, this study evaluates the economic benefit of wind power to the electrical system. The results show that the generation profile of wind energy allows for better optimization of resources, reallocating orders between the regions of the country over the period.

The Brazilian Sector of Electricity Transmission: Entrance of Spanish Companies

The first period of the history of Brazilian electrical transmission between the beginning of the demand for electricity from the 1920s to the privatization of the 1990s was marked by broad participation of large state Brazilian companies in electricity transmission sector. In the second period, mainly from political, economic and legislative 1990s, it was possible to become the most competitive and interesting sector to domestic and foreign entrepreneurs. Under a solid scenario legal, political, economic and fiscal, Spanish companies with protection of his government and focused on expanding the market, till them largely European, come explore the Brazilian energy market actively participating in the public service concession auctions of transmission promoted by National Electricity Agency (ANEEL).

Why energy-intensive consumers no longer invest in power generation in Brazil

ABSTRACT This paper describes the reasons why electro-intensive consumers are no longer interested in investing in power generation in Brazil. It examines how newly introduced changes in the electricity commercialization model, which was aimed at attracting investors in hydroelectric power plants (HPPs), are leading a share of important investors to the opposite direction. The high payments for HPP licenses due to the first reform become those projects no more feasible under the second reform. Besides, since the second electricity framework reform in 2004, they were no more allowed to run for new HPP licenses without selling at least 70% of the electricity to captive consumers, i.e., acting as independent power producers, and also Eletrobras (federal state company) returned to invest in generation assets with as a non-economic investor. The Brazilian case is of particular interest because it is predominantly based on hydropower generation, and self-generators, who played an important role as potential investors in power generation during the period of the first electricity sector reform (1995–2003), have been responsible for one third of the licenses awarded.