BRAZIL

Hydro-electric power is one of Brazil’s principal energy assets: the republic has by far the largest hydropower resources on the continent, with an economically exploitable capability of over 800 TWh/year. Hydro output in 1999 was over 285 TWh, implying that about 35% of this potential has been harnessed so far. Hydro provides most of Brazil’s electricity: 88% of 1999 generation.

Hydro generating capacity more than doubled between 1980 and 1999, partly through gradual commissioning of the huge Itaipú scheme (total capacity 12 600 MW), which came into operation between 1984 and 1991. Brazil shares Itaipú’s output with its neighbour Paraguay, which sells back to Brazil the surplus power remaining after its own electricity needs have been satisfied.

At the end of 1999, Brazil had nearly 11 GW of hydro capacity under construction: the projects include a major (4 125 MW) extension of capacity at Tucuruí, new plants at Porto Primavera (1 814 MW), Itá (1 450 MW), Machadinho (1 140 MW) and Lajeado (850 MW), plus two additional 700 MW units at Itaipú. A further 16 GW of capacity is planned for future development.

Within the overall picture outlined above, small-scale hydro (since 1998, defined in Brazil as plants with a capacity of 1 to 30 MW) has a technically exploitable capability of about 25 TWh/year, nearly 30% of which had been exploited by capacity installed as at end-1999. The 1 500 MW of small-scale hydro currently in place will be augmented by 1 600 MW additional capacity which is under construction or planned. The Federal Government provides a number of financial incentives to owners/developers of small-scale hydro schemes.

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