Brazil Plans to Invest $108 Billion to Add 63,518 Megawatts by 2022

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Brazil's Ministry of Mines and Energy approved the "2022 Energy Expansion Decennial Plan" (PDE), which includes a $107.94 billion investment that aims to increase the country's installed power generation capacity by 63,518 megawatts (MW).

The PDE proposes an increase in generation capacity from renewable sources--mainly windfarms, biomass-fueled thermoelectric sources, and small hydroelectric sources. Larger hydroelectric plants will maintain a relatively large role in the plan's provisions.

The PDE forecasts that installed windfarm capacity will increase from 3,898 MW in 2013 to 17,463 MW in 2022. It also predicts small hydroelectric plants will see a 29% increase in installed capacity, from 5,330 MW in 2013 to 6,905 MW in 2022, while biomass-fueled thermo plants will see a 45% increase, from 9,473 MW last year to 13,769 MW in 2022.

Brazil's installed hydro capacity is expected to increase 38%, from 82.57 GW in 2010 to 114.08 GW in 2022, while installed windfarm capacity will rise from 3.9 GW to 17.46 GW. Small hydroelectric plants are predicted to increase from 5.33 GW to 6.9 GW in the same period, and biomass-fueled thermo plants will rise from 9.47 GW last year to 13.77 GW by 2022.

Nuclear power generation and other thermo projects based on conventional sources are expected to see installed capacity rise from 19.38 GW to 25.9 GW.

Hydro-generation projects are estimated to see about $50 billion in investments, with the larger projects requiring 90% of that amount. Large reservoirs are important for Brazil's energy storage and boost other renewable sources, such as wind, biomass and solar, which cannot generate constantly.

Biomass-based projects are expected to attract about $33.85 billion up to 2022, while thermo projects based on conventional sources will draw about $23.15 billion.

Several investors are interested in installing nearly 5.9 GW of photovoltaic power in the mid- and long term, but are awaiting clear policies that favor security. Currently, solar power is the most expensive form of power generation. Photovoltaic technology is expected to become more competitive and play a bigger role in Brazil's energy matrix.

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