Brazil is currently experiencing its worst water crisis in 91 years, with critical levels of water reserves in its reservoirs. In this scenario, authorities are debating whether to have blackouts or energy rationing – as happened in 2001. This situation is having a major impact on the country, especially when it comes to electricity bills.
Thermal power plants, for example, which use gas and oil and therefore have more expensive generation, are activated. To give you an idea, since June 1st, the activation of the red flag, at level 2, represented R$6,24 for every 100 kWh. However, as of this month, the ANEEL (National Electric Energy Agency) decided that the tariff extra on the electricity bill would rise to R$ 9,49 per 100 kWh, which represented an increase of 52%.
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Among the justifications behind this situation, which already affects inflation and threatens economic growth, is the lack of rain. Today, the reservoirs in the Southeast and Central-West regions, responsible for 70% of the country's energy generation, are at just 30,2% of their capacity.
In some of them, the rate is even below 11%. This is the case of the São Simão, Itumbiara, Marimbondo and Água Vermelha reservoirs. So, what can be done to help solve this problem? In the view of Tiago Sarneski, partner and owner of Entec Solar, photovoltaic solar energy is proving to be an effective alternative to the crisis.
“The time is very opportune to address the issue for several reasons: the first of which is the risk of blackouts, followed by the saving of money in Brazilians’ pockets. Then, because Bill 5829 is about to be analyzed in the National Congress, which will establish the legal framework for distributed generation in the country, democratizing access to solar”, he highlighted.
Furthermore, the executive praised the advantages of photovoltaic energy, such as low environmental impact, simple installation, irrelevant cost in relation to its useful life (more than 25 years) and the fact that it can be used as a substitute for conventional electrical energy.
“Including reaching the 9 GW mark, this sustainable source is today greater than the entire capacity of coal-fired thermoelectric plants and even nuclear plants, which represent 5,6 GW”, concluded Sarneski.
Read more: Solar energy proves to be a solution to the water crisis
For engineer Roberto Caurim, CEO of Bluesun, the low levels of hydroelectric plants and the readjustment of ANEEL for red flag 2 also show the importance and urgency of obtaining and facilitating the expansion of energy matrices in Brazil. “The more renewable energy options we add, the greater our diversification will be, and photovoltaic energy has already proven to be stable, meeting Brazilian demand,” said Caurim.
“Solar is a highly profitable, renewable and constant source. With just 1% of the country's electrical matrix, it supplies the equivalent of 40% of the Itaipu plant. In this sense, we see its importance, since if everyone turned off their photovoltaic systems at the same time, it would certainly have a huge impact on the Brazilian electrical system”, he concluded.
