A transição da matriz energética mundial: ênfase nos recursos renováveis

Abstract

This article analyzes the global and Brazilian energy matrices from the perspective of the integration of renewable energy sources. Several factors justify the importance of current energy studies, including the announced depletion of fossil fuel-based energy sources, the expansion of industrial demand in emerging countries, and greater energy efficiency coupled with lower pollution levels. It was identified that non-renewable sources still comprise the largest percentage of the world's energy supply, however, they are systematically losing ground to renewable sources. Analyzing the Brazilian reality, the same phenomenon was observed, but with a faster increase in the participation of renewable sources, signaling a reversal of supremacy in the national energy matrix. Among the factors justifying this global evolution are the high costs of oil-based energy; the greater energy demand from emerging countries in recent years; the deepening of environmental discussions, mainly focused on reducing pollution levels; and the greater increase in renewable alternative energy sources. Brazil, which has historically had a strong relative presence of renewable sources in its energy mix, particularly hydroelectric power and coal, is emerging as an important supplier of biofuels. Bioethanol, Brazil's main energy source since the 1970s, stands out, along with biodiesel. These are the alternatives experiencing the greatest growth in the share of renewable sources in the Brazilian energy matrix. For this pace to be maintained – or even increased – it is necessary to convince international opinion of the benefits of this substitution process.