O Brazil has recorded more than 109 fires this year, an increase of 78% compared to the same period last year. The data is from Weather, a meteorological consulting and weather forecasting company in Brazil and Latin America.
The company's perspective that the drought lasts until November brings a warning to the electricity sector, whose assets and operations may be significantly impacted by the risk of continued fires.
“A arrival of the wet season in the North, Central-West, South and Southeast regions will be delayed, as well as the arrival of La Niña, which could bring rain at the beginning of spring. The current period is critical for fires due to the combination of low humidity, dry vegetation and high temperatures, ideal conditions for the spread of fires”, explains Pedro Regoto, meteorologist at Weather.
Climatempo also highlights that fires have multiple impacts on the energy sector. Among them, the increase in local temperature, which can reduce the efficiency of power generation, especially in solar plants, in addition to increased soiling rate on solar s, due to the accumulation of particles that reduce the generation capacity.
Another factor highlighted is the greater presence of particles and ash, causing short circuits in the transmission network, as they can damage insulators and other components, leading to failures and interruptions in the energy supply, in addition to disruptions in the infrastructure, with direct damage to physical components of the transmission and distribution network that bring high risks of shutdowns.
Smoke from fires reduced solar radiation by 20% in August
Using technology to mitigate damage
Vitor Hassan, VP of Markets and Head of the energy vertical at Climatempo, highlights that with climate extremes increasingly influencing the energy sector, it is crucial for companies in this market to use precise meteorological monitoring technologies capable of helping in the planning of generation, transmission and distribution operations, as well as in the expansion and resilience of assets.
“The of these technologies is becoming increasingly necessary for companies in the electricity sector to protect their assets and operations,” says Hassan.
He points out that Climatempo is currently ing an increase in demand for the services of SMAC (Climatempo Monitoring and Alert System), a solution to mitigate the risks associated with fires.
According to him, using real-time data and accurate predictions, SMAC allows for the early identification of areas at risk and the implementation of preventive measures.
Care for PV plants on the ground close to fire areas
According to Climatempo, through the use of sensors on satellites, it is possible to identify fires in a short space of time, facilitating mobilization and quick decision-making to minimize impacts.
Meteorologist Regoto also highlights that Climatempo's approach to combating and preventing fires includes issuing detailed fire analysis reports, which assess the history of occurrences over the years, examine the direct impact of these events on companies' assets and identify the areas most likely to require additional investments in resilience.
“With these analyses, companies can develop more effective strategies to protect their operations, mitigate future risks and optimize their response to environmental challenges. These insights are essential for planning and executing preventive actions, ensuring the safety and continuity of energy operations in areas prone to fires,” concludes Regoto.
Watch LIVE now: Dirt on solar s during periods of fires and droughts
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