Brazil is facing the most intense drought period in recent historyaccording to the Cemaden (National Center for Monitoring Natural Disasters).
A lack of rain affects directly to hydroelectric plants, responsible for more than 50% of the energy matrix Brazilian, which with the reduction of reservoir levels have their generation capacity reduced.
With this comes the need to activate the thermoelectric plants to meet energy demand, which are more expensive and more polluting, directly affecting the consumer's pocket. Reaching tariff flag level 2, that is, an increase of R$7,877 for every 100 kWh consumed in October 2024.
This scenario highlights the need for diversification of the Brazilian energy matrix and solar energy appears as a renewable solution e clean, in addition to bringing security to the electrical grid while helping to reduce the environmental impacts of energy generation.
Solar Energy as a Solution
According to a Bernardo Marangon, Director of Prime Energy e teacher of Canal Solar, the drought is directly related to the energy issue in Brazil and the solar energy plays a crucial role in this scenario.
“The more energy we have available from alternative sources, the less pressure there will be on reservoirs and the less we will depend on hydroelectric power, our exposure to the risk of power shortages and price increases is reduced”, explains Marangon.
O Brazil is naturally an environment suitable for solar generation Unlike hydroelectric plants, photovoltaic plants do not depend on weather conditions. The sun is an abundant source in Brazil, especially during dry periods.
“In practice, the solar energy has already contributed to delaying the start of the rise in energy prices in times of water scarcity, offering more generation to the system at times of high demand and alleviating the need to activate thermoelectric plants, which are more expensive and polluting”, highlights the professor.
Na GC (Centralized Generation), the problem of curtailment, that is, waste of generated energy that cannot be used due to grid limitations, is a critical barrier. GD (Distributed Generation), for example, allows homes, businesses and industries to install s on their properties, which in turn carry the challenges of flow inversion.
For Bernardo Marangon, the solution to these challenges involves the adoption of batteries, which are great allies of renewable sources. “The large scale storage can provide the grid with the flexibility needed to deal with generation peaks and drops, ensuring greater security and stability for the system,” he explains.
“Without this storage infrastructure, it will be difficult to significantly expand renewable sources, as the electricity grid will be overloaded with the increase in intermittent generation,” concludes Marangon.
Compared to hydroelectric plants, for example, solar power plants are built in a period faster, allowing for an accelerated increase in generation capacity.
Os prices two equipment e installation are also falling, in addition, solar s have a long useful life, which in the medium and long term, makes energy cheaper than conventional sources.
Drop in battery prices puts storage on Brazilians’ radar
Drought period in Brazil in 2023
No period of drought in 2023Near 30% of Brazilian municipalities faced at least one month of drought at severe, extreme or exceptional levels, impacting an area of more than 4 million km² and affecting about 42 million people.
Like the example of Amazon, which had in 2023 one of the worst droughts in its history and which has already recorded other episodes of extreme and prolonged drought associated with the climatic phenomenon in this century El Niño. The first in 2005, the second in 2010, the third in 2015 and 2016 and the most recent in 2022-2023.
This water crisis resulted in the interruption of energy supply, due to the impact on hydroelectric plants, which reduced energy generation capacity and increased dependence on other sources.
According to a Renato Senna, researcher and hydrology coordinator at LBA (Large-Scale Biosphere-Atmosphere Program in the Amazon) do IMPA (National Institute for Amazon Research), “the historic drought of 2023 occurred in a context of warming of surface waters close to the equator in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans”.
Drought period in Brazil in 2024
The period of drought in 2024 is expected to be more intense or even more serious than that of 2023, such as reduced rainfall and increased temperatures.
As the drought continues, energy generation requires investment in renewable sources such as solar energy to minimize economic and social impacts.
O Cemaden report, shows that the drought between the years 2023 and 2024 covers the area of about 5 million km², Ou seja, more than half of the entire national territory.
Names of August, there were 3.978 municipalities in a state of drought, that is, more than 70% of municipalities of the country, where 201 are in extreme drought situation.
With the arrival of spring, there is the heat increase due to the level of sunlight, predominating warmer days, heat records e extreme temperatures.
Unlike last year, when the season was influenced by El Niño, this year's spring will have a phenomenon La niña developing throughout the season, with effects most noticeable in November and December, increasing the conditions for rain in areas of the Southeast according to the Weather.
The year 2024 is also breaking records for heat in the atmosphere and ocean, as happened in 2023.
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