Brazil energy watch

BYD Brasil and Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina are developing the first laboratory with full photovoltaic integration of the building-integrated photovoltaic system (BIPV) type. 

The laboratory on the university campus will use 360 modules, delivered earlier this month, of 450W and 530W. The latter, with transparent backsheet, will be installed on the roof, according to inclination and positioning, for greater energy generation. The 450W modules will be used on the lateral facades of the laboratory's facilities.

The modules will act as roof tiles and shading elements on the facades, i.e., they will have a sealing and shading function in addition to energy generation. 

One of the photovoltaic roofs will be used as a shading element on the building's roof slab, significantly impacting thermal gains through the roof.

The laboratory is expected to have a 61% reduced thermal load, generate 71% savings for the air conditioning system, and a 52% reduction in installed lighting power, compared to conventional facilities.

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National electricity consumption is expected to grow 2.7% in 2023, reaching 71,735MWa, considering GDP of 0.7%. 

For 2023-27, average annual load growth of 3.4% is estimated, reaching 82,584MWa at the end of the period and average annual GDP of 2.2%. 

The forecast was produced by national grid operator ONS, energy research company EPE and electricity trading chamber CCEE.

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Development bank BNDES has approved a change in the rules of its RenovaBio biofuels program to encourage CO2 emissions reductions in the fuel sector. 

With a budget of 2bn reais (US$390mn), the goal is to attract more companies, providing discounts of up to 0.4% on interest rates for customers who demonstrate improvements in environmental indicators. 

The program also aims to strengthen fuel matrix decarbonization.

In its new format, BNDES RenovaBio stipulates carbon emission reduction targets according to the current stage of energy-environmental efficiency of each client. 

For those considered more efficient, the required target will be reduced to 2%. On the other hand, clients that still need to improve emission standards will have their targets raised to 10%. 

For the remaining companies, the reduction percentage will stay at 5%.

In addition, there will be a reduction in the initial interest rate, formed by the TLP index or by market cost benchmarks, a credit risk rate, plus BNDES's basic remuneration, which will go from 1.5% to 1.3% per year. 

If the client proves, after the grace period, to have reached the CO2 reduction targets defined by the program, the initial interest rate will be reduced.

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Steelmaker Gerdau has signed a partnership with Newave Capital (NW Capital), a Brazilian investment manager focused on the energy sector, to acquire an equity stake in the renewable energy generation platform Newave Energia. 

Gerdau’s new division, Gerdau Next, will own 33.33% and NW Capital 66.67%. 

The deal includes the acquisition of long-term power by Gerdau and its subsidiaries, corresponding to up to 30% of the power generated by the power generation projects directly or indirectly held by Newave Energia and its subsidiaries, on a self-production basis. 

The operation aims to generate more competitive steel production costs, in addition to supplying Gerdau's industrial units with renewable energy, as part of its commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Newave Energia was created with the objective of developing greenfield power generation projects with a capacity of around 2.5GW, exclusively from solar or wind sources, with expected start-up in 2025 and 2026, and for investing in brownfield projects and electricity trading, either in the retail, directional and/or pre-payment transactions modality.

Gerdau Next will invest up to 1.5bn reais in Newave Energia, in two stages. In the first phase, the company will invest 500mn reais throughout 2023, while the second phase contemplates investment of up to 1bn reais, conditioned on the achievement of certain performance goals. 

The investment made by NW Capital, together with XP Investimentos, will amount to 1bn reais in 2023 and, in a second phase, to up to 2bn reais to be subscribed by investors according to market funding.

The formalization of the operation is subject to the usual conditions precedent in operations of this nature, including approval by the competition authorities.

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Petrobras has terminated the competitive process for the sale of the Canoas thermoelectric plant (UTE Canoas).

In a statement, the company said it was not possible to obtain adequate commercial conditions for the transaction and that it will evaluate its next steps regarding the divestment.

Located in the municipality of Canoas, UTE Canoas can operate with natural gas or diesel oil, with installed capacity of 249MW.

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Lupatech has closed three contracts with Petrobras for the supply of Globe Valves. 

The agreements foresee the possibility of acquiring up to 21.5mn reais in equipment for two years, renewable for up to two years by agreement between the parties. 

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Regulator ANP and 3R Areia Branca, of the 3R Petroleum group, have signed concession contracts for exploration and production of oil and natural gas from blocks POT-T-326, POT-T-353, POT-T-437, POT-T-524, POT-T-525 and POT-T-568, in the Potiguar Basin.

The contracts are valid five years for the exploration phase and 27 years for the production phase. 

The blocks were acquired last April, at ANP’s third open acreage round.