Sustainability performance evaluation of renewable energy sources : the case of Brazil

This book presents a unique analysis of the sustainability performance of various renewable energy sources, based on Brazilian case studies. The evaluation also covers the potential held by regions with diverse socioeconomic and environmental characteristics and how they affect the development of each source. Considering that energy is essential to sustaining and improving modern society, the answer to the current energy dilemma lies in the development of a system that comprises multiple renewable, reliable, and sustainable energy sources. Brazil, which has a predominantly renewable electricity grid, has the privilege of being home to a range of different sustainable sources, although most of its electricity comes from hydroelectric power plants. With that in mind, this book has the primary objective of developing a performance evaluation system for important renewable sources in Brazil (solar, wind, and hydro), taking into account different scenarios and investor profiles. The analysis is based on the study of sustainability indicators related to the technical, economic, social and environmental aspects of the evaluated energy systems. As the availability of renewable sources is very location-specific, the scope of this book covers two Brazilian States with distinct characteristics. It makes it possible to determine which renewable energy source is most adequate from a sustainability perspective, and in light of the analyzed scope and investor profile. Foreword 5 Acknowledgements 7 Contents 8 About the Authors 11 Symbols and Abbreviations 13 List of Figures 15 List of Tables 17 Introduction 20 References 22 1 World Energy Matrix 23 Abstract 23 1.1 Overview of the World Energy Matrix 23 1.1.1 Non-renewable Energy 25 1.1.2 Climate Change 28 1.1.3 Renewable Energy 29 1.1.4 Challenges for the Development of Renewable Energies 31 1.2 Brazilian Energy Matrix 33 1.2.1 Retrospective of Production and Consumption 35 1.2.2 Electrical System Characteristics 35 1.2.3 Programs and Incentives 37 References 38 2 Renewable Energy Sources 40 Abstract 40 2.1 Hydro-electric Energy 40 2.1.1 World Hydroelectric Generation 41 2.1.2 Hydroelectric Potential and Generation in Brazil 44 2.1.3 Basic Principles of Hydropower Generation 45 2.1.4 Sustainability Issues of Hydroelectric Power 47 2.2 Wind Energy 48 2.2.1 World Wind Energy Generation 48 2.2.2 Wind Energy Potential and Generation in Brazil 51 2.2.3 Basic Principles of Wind Power Generation 52 2.2.4 Wind Energy Sustainability 53 2.3 Photovoltaic Solar Energy 55 2.3.1 World Photovoltaic Power Generation 55 2.3.2 Photovoltaic Power Potential and Generation in Brazil 58 2.3.3 Basic Principles of Photovoltaic Power Generation 60 2.3.4 Sustainability of Photovoltaic Energy 61 References 62 3 Sustainabilty Indicators 65 Abstract 65 3.1 The Triple Bottom Line 66 3.2 Sustainability Indicators 67 3.3 Selecting Sustainability Indicators 73 3.4 Energy Sustainability Indicators 74 3.4.1 Background 75 3.4.2 Economic Indicators 76 3.4.3 Environmental Indicators 78 3.4.4 Social Indicators 80 References 81 4 Sustainability Indicators for the Performance Evaluation of Renewable Energy Technologies 83 Abstract 83 4.1 Indicators Selection 83 4.2 Economic Indicators 86 4.2.1 Implementation Cost 88 4.2.2 Price of Energy Generated 88 4.2.3 Payback Time 89 4.3 Technical Indicators 89 4.3.1 Required Area 90 4.3.2 Lifetime 90 4.3.3 Generation Efficiency 90 4.4 Environmental Indicators 91 4.4.1 Greenhouse Gases Emissions 91 4.4.2 Other Gases Emissions 92 4.4.3 Water Consumption 92 4.4.4 Biodiversity Loss 93 4.5 Social Indicators 94 References 94 5 Sustainability Performance Evaluation of Renewable Energy Technologies 96 Abstract 96 5.1 Definition of Project Purpose and Scope 96 5.2 Data Collection 97 5.3 Determination of Sustainability Indicators 98 5.4 Sustainability Performance Assessment 99 5.5 Limitations of the Method 106 References 107 6 Case Study: Evaluation of Renewable Energy Production Technologies in Two Regions of Brazil 108 Abstract 108 6.1 Definition of the Objectives and Project Scope 108 6.2 Details of the Assessed Cases 110 6.2.1 HPP Garibaldi 112 6.2.2 WPP Wind Power Complex Água Doce 113 6.2.3 Tubarão PSPP 114 6.2.4 Açude Castanhão SHP 115 6.2.5 WPP Praia Formosa 116 6.2.6 Grupo Telles PSPP 117 6.3 Determination of Sustainability Indicators 118 6.3.1 Economic Indicators 119 6.3.2 Technical Indicators 120 6.3.3 Environmental Indicators 121 6.3.4 Social Indicators 122 6.3.5 Method Application in the Cases Assessed 123 6.3.6 Assessment of Scenario 1 (CN-MON) 123 6.3.7 Assessment of Scenario 2 (CN-ECO) 127 6.3.8 Assessment of Scenario 3 (CN-SUST) 128 6.4 Summary of Results 129 6.5 Discussion 130 6.6 Conclusions 133 6.6.1 Outlook 134 References 134 Appendix A: Calculation of Indicators 136 Appendix B: Calculation of AIS 139 Appendix C: Summary of Results’ Radar Charts 142 Appendix C: Summary of Results’ Radar Charts 142 Appendix C: Summary of Results’ Radar Charts 142 Appendix C: Summary of Results’ Radar Charts 142 Front Matter ....Pages i-xxv World Energy Matrix (João Fernando Gomes de Oliveira, Tatiana Costa Guimarães Trindade)....Pages 1-17 Renewable Energy Sources (João Fernando Gomes de Oliveira, Tatiana Costa Guimarães Trindade)....Pages 19-43 Sustainabilty Indicators (João Fernando Gomes de Oliveira, Tatiana Costa Guimarães Trindade)....Pages 45-62 Sustainability Indicators for the Performance Evaluation of Renewable Energy Technologies (João Fernando Gomes de Oliveira, Tatiana Costa Guimarães Trindade)....Pages 63-75 Sustainability Performance Evaluation of Renewable Energy Technologies (João Fernando Gomes de Oliveira, Tatiana Costa Guimarães Trindade)....Pages 77-88 Case Study: Evaluation of Renewable Energy Production Technologies in Two Regions of Brazil (João Fernando Gomes de Oliveira, Tatiana Costa Guimarães Trindade)....Pages 89-116 Back Matter ....Pages 117-130