Brazil renewable energy matrix reaches 41.2%

The share of renewable energy in the Brazilian energy matrix increased from 39.4% in 2014 to 41.2% last year.

Ethanol and sugar cane bagasse took the biggest share of renewable sources of energy, reaching 41.1%, followed by energy produced by hydroelectric power (27.5%), wood and charcoal (19.9%), biodiesel (2.5%), and wind (1.5%). Data were released today (Jun. 6) by the Mines and Energy Ministry in the 2016 Brazilian Annual Energy Review.

Brazil's rate is higher than the one posted by developed countries (9.4% renewable). "A significant share of hydropower and representative use of biomass on the Brazilian energy matrix provides lower CO2 emission indicators, below the world's and developed countries' average," reads the report. Among the sources used to produce electricity, 75.5% of them are renewable.

In Brazil, CO2 emissions fell 4.6% in 2015, due to the decrease of 7.2% in petroleum products consumed. Among the non-renewable energy sources used in the country, oil (63.4%) get the largest share, followed by gas (23.3%), in addition to coal, nuclear and industrial gas power.

Last year, the domestic energy supply dropped 2.1% compared with 2014. According to the document, the fall has logically resulted from the decrease of 3.8% in the economy and was mainly caused by the negative rates of 3% in industrial energy consumption and 2.6% in transportation energy consumption.

The review also shows that 99.3% of the country's households were powered by electricity until the end of 2015. And around 500,000 households are not powered by electricity yet.

The Energy Review is a document prepared by the Mines and Energy Ministry to disclose information on the performance of key indicators of the Brazilian energy sector in the areas of oil, gas, bioenergy, electricity, coal and intensive sectors.

Translated by Amarílis Anchieta