Brazil
Electricity generation in Brazil
Nuclear power
Brazil has two nuclear power plants, the 630-megawatt (MW) Angra-1 and the 1,350-MW Angra-2. State-owned Eletronuclear, a subsidiary of Electrobras, operates both plants. A third, 1,350-MW plant, Angra-3, remains partially constructed.
(source: http://www.eia.doe.gov/cabs/)
Energy consumption
Brazil is the 10th largest energy consumer in the world and the third largest in the Western Hemisphere, behind the United States and Canada. Total primary energy consumption in Brazil has increased significantly in recent years. In addition, Brazil has made great strides in increasing its total energy production, particularly oil, over the past decade. Increasing domestic oil production has been a long-term goal of the Brazilian government.
- The largest share of Brazil’s total energy consumption comes from oil (48 percent, including ethanol),
- followed by hydroelectricity (35 percent)
- and natural gas (7 percent).
- Nuclear power comes up to 1% of energy consumption
(source: http://www.eia.doe.gov/cabs/)
Electricty generation
Brazil had 90.7 gigawatts of installed generating capacity in 2005, with the single largest share being hydroelectricity. In 2005, the country generated 396.4 billion kilowatthours (Bkwh) of electric power, while consuming 368.5 Bkwh. The largest source of electricity generation is hydropower (84 percent), with smaller amounts from conventional thermal, nuclear, and other renewable sources.
(source: http://www.eia.doe.gov/cabs/)
Developments in the nuclear sector
2009, March: Completion of Angra-3?
"An environmental licence has been given for work towards completing Angra 3, a power reactor Brazil put on hold some 23 years ago.
The Brazilian Institute of Environmental and Renewable Resources (Ibama) granted a licence for Eletronuclear's project yesterday, which would be valid for six years. The company needs two more licences before work can really start: from the local municipality of Angra dos Reis and the National Commission for Nuclear Energy.
A proposal for the terms for the civil construction work has been submitted to union officials, with a decision expected within 60 days.
Eletronuclear said it expected the outstanding licences by the end of March, so that work may commence in earnest 'in the first half of 2009'. The 1220 MWe pressurized water reactor could go into commercial operation in November 2014.
The approval from Ibama comes despite apparent attempts by the department's head to make the project as difficult as possible for Eletronuclear. Sixty tough conditions were imposed on the company, including beautification of Angra and Paraty cities, maintenance of a portion of the national park as well as more relevant items such as assurances on waste disposal and radiation monitoring.
Angra 3 was planned as the twin to Angra 2 but construction work never began despite the delivery of about 70% of the plant components, which then had to be maintained over the years.
The addition of Angra 3 would take Brazil's nuclear generating capacity to 3120 MWe - about 6% of total supply. But Eletronuclear announced last year that it would select two new nuclear sites big enough for six reactor each in line with the requirements of a National Energy Plan. One site is to be in the north east, the other in the south east. Eletronuclear projected the completion of the first two north east reactors in 2019 and 2021, and the south east ones in 2023 and 2025. Ultimately, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio 'Lula' da Silva is proposing some 60,000 MWe of nuclear for the country."
(source: world nuclear news)
2007/2008: Construction of Angra-3 resumed
In 2007, Electronuclear received permission from the Brazilian government to resume construction of Angra-3, and the company also began the process of applying for permission from Ibama (Brazil’s environmental regulatory agency) to begin operations at the plant. Construction on Angra-3 began again in 2008. Electronuclear announced in August 2007 that it had begun the process of selecting a site for a fourth nuclear power plant in Brazil. According to the government, both of these new plants will use fuel produced in Brazil, rather than imported from Europe.
(source: http://www.eia.doe.gov/cabs/)
