Table Of ContentThe Latin American Studies Book Series
Drielli Peyerl
Stefania Relva
Vinícius Da Silva Editors
Energy
Transition
in Brazil
The Latin American Studies Book Series
Series Editors
Eustógio W. Correia Dantas, Departamento de Geografia, Centro de Ciências,
Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil
Jorge Rabassa, Laboratorio de Geomorfología y Cuaternario, CADIC-CONICET,
Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina
The Latin American Studies Book Series promotes quality scientific research focusing
on Latin American countries. The series accepts disciplinary and interdisciplinary
titles related to geographical, environmental, cultural, economic, political and urban
research dedicated to Latin America. The series publishes comprehensive mono-
graphs, edited volumes and textbooks refereed by a region or country expert
specialized in Latin American studies.
The series aims to raise the profile of Latin American studies, showcasing impor-
tant works developed focusing on the region. It is aimed at researchers, students, and
everyone interested in Latin American topics.
Submit a proposal: Proposals for the series will be considered by the Series
Advisory Board. A book proposal form can be obtained from the Publisher, Juliana
Pitanguy ([email protected]).
· ·
Drielli Peyerl Stefania Relva Vinícius Da Silva
Editors
Energy Transition in Brazil
Editors
Drielli Peyerl Stefania Relva
Institute of Energy and Environment Energy Group of Department of Energy
University of São Paulo and Electrical Automation Engineering
São Paulo, Brazil Polytechnic School
University of São Paulo
University of Amsterdam
São Paulo, Brazil
Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Vinícius Da Silva
Energy Group of Department of Energy
and Electrical Automation Engineering
Polytechnic School
University of São Paulo
São Paulo, Brazil
ISSN 2366-3421 ISSN 2366-343X (electronic)
The Latin American Studies Book Series
ISBN 978-3-031-21032-7 ISBN 978-3-031-21033-4 (eBook)
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-21033-4
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To all the researchers that work toward a
sustainable future
Foreword
The 2021 United Nations Climate Conference held in Glasgow, Scotland, known as
COP26, shed light on new global challenges to be surpassed and the urgent and irre-
mediable need to adopt commitments that reduce greenhouse gas emissions and limit
climate change. During COP26, Brazil assumed a bolder responsibility to contribute
to these goals. Thus, the country intends to mitigate about 50% of its greenhouse gas
by 2030.
Hereupon, the present book is presented in a vital moment of discussion and
learning about how the energy transition to a low-carbon future is directly connected
to our past, present and future and how we can contribute to making this happen in
an affordable, reliable, and sustainable way. The 15 book chapters cover a range of
subjects which varies from history and geopolitics to new technologies and energy
carriers such as carbon capture and storage and hydrogen and even the effects of the
measures adopted as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in the energy sector. In
addition, the book is one of the first results of the Brazil Energy Transition (BET)
group formed by researchers from the most diverse areas of knowledge and focuses
on the 5Ds of the energy transition (Decarbonization, Decentralization, Decreasing
Consumption, Democratization and Digitalization). The collaboration of interna-
tional researchers in the book has demonstrated the group’s interdisciplinarity and
internationalization.
Finally, the book presents innovative research that Brazil can follow to achieve
the goals outlined at COP26. I wish you all an enjoyable read and that it brings
excellent reflections and inputs to the discussions on the energy transition pathways
to a low-carbon future in the country.
June 2022 Prof. Dr. Julio Romano Meneghini
Director of the Researcher Centre for
Greenhouse Gas Innovation
University of São Paulo
São Paulo, Brazil
vii
Introduction
In January 2019, a project aimed at studying energy transition in Brazil was approved
through the Young Researcher modality (Proc. 2017/18208-8), funded by São Paulo
Research Foundation (FAPESP). One of the objectives of this modality is to implant
new study lines. Since then, one of the main results of this project has been the
formation of a research group made up of researchers who are not only interested
in the topic of energy transition but also believe in a sustainable future. This group
was also consolidated as a research group on Energy Transition studies in Brazil
via the Scientific Division of Environmental Management, Science and Technology
at the Institute of Energy and Environment of the University of São Paulo and in
partnership with the Research Center for Greenhouse Gas Innovation.
Today, this group called Brazil Energy Transition (BET) is made up of 25
researchers and students (15 women and 10 men) from different areas (biologists,
lawyers, economists, engineers, historians, geographers, environmental managers,
geologists, meteorologists, among others). This multidisciplinary has allowed the
construction of a solid book on the energy transition process in Brazil. Over a year and
a half of research, we editors and authors worked hard to deliver original content to
readers interested in the topic that could offer the most varied and detailed information
about the past, present and future of the energy transition in Brazil.
The book’s objective is to present the energy transition process in Brazil over time
and offer new perspectives to achieve a sustainable future. The book unfolds over
15 chapters covering historical, geopolitical, technical, and economical aspects and
elements conceptually familiar to the energy transition, such as social acceptance,
low-carbon technologies, digitalization, Sustainable Development Goals, and even
recent topics such as the pandemic of COVID-19. The Brazilian electricity and
transport sectors and climate change governance are also one of this book’s main
focuses.
The first three chapters provide a theoretical-conceptual basis on the past, present
and future of the energy transition in Brazil, answering how the past energy transition
aspects have shaped the current Brazilian energy landscape; how the theme is little
explored and quoted in the Brazilian context when compared to the international
scope; and what are the possible impacts for Brazil’s energy geopolitics in a scenario
ix
x Introduction
of successful global energy transition toward low-carbon future. Chapters 4 and 5
discuss how the concepts of energy democracy, energy justice and social acceptance
are being addressed and incorporated into the Brazilian reality. Chapters 6 and 7
innovate and align with two central D’s of the energy transition by focusing on the
digitalization and decentralization of the Brazilian electricity sector. Chapters 8–10
discuss if natural gas has behaved as an energy transition element in the Brazilian
context; what are the possibilities for carbon capture, storage and utilization and
how Brazil can become a major hydrogen economy player and driver in the world.
Chapters 11 and 12 focus on the transport sector, offering new perspectives on one
of the sectors that most emit greenhouse gas in Brazil. Finally, the last three chapters
reflect on the paths Brazil has been taking in search of an energy transition that aims
at the potential of renewable natural gas, the main challenges of Brazilian energy
governance to mitigate and adapt to climate change, and what are the main lessons
we can learn from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on the energy
sector.
Thus, this book is the result of the hard work of the researchers of this group,
who work with a team spirit and with the same ideal of believing in free and quality
education, which has changed the lives of many of them, especially in the context of
difficulties characteristic of developing countries. Behind all these 15 chapters, we
have the story and dream of each researcher to do quality research, believe in science
and make a difference around them. The paths taken throughout this book demon-
strate the particularities of Brazil and present this country in a unique and differen-
tiated way in terms of the various approaches to the energy transition. Finally, it is
a book that brings a multidisciplinary, innovative vision and information published
for the first time.
We wish you a pleasant reading.
Drielli Peyerl
Stefania Relva
Vinícius Da Silva
Contents
1 Energy Transition: Changing the Brazilian Landscape Over
Time ......................................................... 1
Drielli Peyerl, Stefania Gomes Relva, and Vinícius Oliveira da Silva
2 Knowledge Mapping: A Review of the Energy Transition
Applied to Brazil .............................................. 17
Vinicius Oliveira da Silva, André dos Santos Alonso Pereira,
Stefania Gomes Relva, and Drielli Peyerl
3 Geopolitical Losses and Gains from the Pathways
of the Energy Transition in Brazil ............................... 37
André dos Santos Alonso Pereira, Vinicius Oliveira da Silva,
Edmilson Moutinho dos Santos, and Drielli Peyerl
4 Democracy and Energy Justice: A Look at the Brazilian
Electricity Sector .............................................. 57
Alex Azevedo dos Santos, Rodolfo Pereira Medeiros,
Milena Megrè, and Drielli Peyerl
5 Social Acceptance and Perceptions of Energy Transition
Technologies in Brazil ......................................... 75
Anna Luisa Abreu Netto, Pedro Roberto Jacobi, and Drielli Peyerl
6 Digitalization in the Brazilian Electricity Sector .................. 91
Stefania Gomes Relva, Maria Rogieri Pelissari,
Vinicius Oliveira da Silva, and Drielli Peyerl
7 Regulatory Pathways for the Decentralisation of the Brazilian
Electricity System ............................................. 111
Marcella Mondragon and Drielli Peyerl
xi
