Atypical heat waves are affecting the entire Brazilian territory. The South, Southeast and Central-West regions are the most impacted. In the first two months of the year, the South has already recorded four strong heat waves with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius and lasting much longer than those recorded in other years.
According to maps of Weather, a meteorological information management company, we will have a carnival in strong heat and temperatures will reach 5 degrees above the historical average for this period of the year.
While the North is at the beginning of the “Amazonian winter”, a period marked by heavy rainfall, although abundant, it still records peaks of intense heat. And the Northeast has been experiencing below-average rainfall in many regions, which also ends up raising temperatures.
Given this scenario of anomalous temperatures occurring more frequently and for longer periods, the Brazilian Electric Sector (SEB) faces a major challenge to ensure efficient generation and transmission of energy. The ONS (National System Operator), which is primarily responsible for the operation of the SEB, has the crucial role of optimizing distribution and ensuring that electricity reaches large population centers in an appropriate manner.
The main function of the ONS is to ensure safe and efficient operation of the electrical system, even in the face of these increasingly intense climate variations.
In recent years, a new player has gained prominence in the electricity sector: DG (distributed generation). Small generators, mostly equipped with photovoltaic panels, installed on rooftops, parking lots and areas close to cities, produce energy for instantaneous consumption on site.
Furthermore, following specific legislation, the surplus generated can be injected into the public electricity grid, which is managed by several regional energy concessionaires.
This generation in the DG mode is excellent not only for SEB but also for the entire Brazilian society. In times when a certain region faces unbearable heat waves, the increased use of refrigeration equipment increases electricity consumption and increases the risk of blackouts.
O ONS has already recorded five historic energy dispatch records in these first two months of the year, not coincidentally, these records occurred at the same temperature/dispatch time SIN (National Interconnected System).
The heat comes with a lot of sun and, at this time, solar energy is generating its peak energy. This brings relief to transmission lines and power substations.
This dynamic is new, characterizing a new phenomenon in SEB. Energy from distributed generation is not computed in the SIN dispatch. Therefore, the energy consumption records released by ONS are even higher if the volume of generation and consumption, in this case distributed generation, are added to these.
Before the distributed generation boom that began in 2020, power feeders and substations were under greater stress. The need to dispatch more power over long distances on transmission cables was a much greater challenge. So the risks to the system were greater.
After a day of intense sun and heat, the system was almost exhausted and still needed to be able to support the peak consumption at the end of the day and beginning of the night, the so-called peak time.
Any problem in one of the electrical safety systems could knock out the power supply and cause a chain reaction blackout. Such an event occurred in Chile at the end of February, leaving 99% of the country without power, causing chaos with people trapped in elevators, subways at a standstill, banks closing and flights suspended.
The entire Chilean economy is being affected by this unexpected blackout caused by a system failure. The causes are still being investigated. One detail is that distributed generation in Chile is not as encouraged as in Brazil.
Another positive point: if we did not have a federal law and regulation that promoted strong growth in this energy generation model, Brazil would most likely have had a similar or even worse blackout experience than Chile.
The benefits of distributed generation for SEB are numerous. Overheated cables promote the dispersion of energy that ends up being charged on the electricity bill of all Brazilians as a tariff component called “technical losses”.
With energy generated within large consumption centers and relieving the load on substations and transmission cables, these losses are reduced. The heating of feeders can still cause fires and accidents that would also lead to a high risk of a chain collapse of the SIN. Until the system is restored, chaos is installed and the losses are incalculable.
The development of distributed generation was the main point of the modernization of SEB and this energy diversity brought new ingredients for evaluation, with one of the main points being the need to rethink the electrical grid so that new technologies can be developed and thus promote greater energy security in supply and also result in charging more affordable energy rates.
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An answer
I would like to clarify. Since 29/04/2023, solar DG has been included in the SIN dispatch.