O presente estudo volta-se para a análise do Desempenho do Índice de Energia Elétrica à Luz das Mudanças Institucionais no Setor Elétrico Brasileiro. Para tal fim, o estudo focou seus esforços na análise do impacto da Medida Provisória nº 579 de 11 de Setembro de 2012 (convertida na Lei nº 12.783/2013) sobre as ações do Setor de Energia Elétrica, representadas aqui pelo respectivo índice do setor na BM&FBOVESPA. Os resultados da pesquisa revelam que a partir do lançamento da Medida Provisória nº 579 até o fim do intervalo de tempo observado (Abril de 2015), o Índice de Energia Elétrica não se recuperou da inversão de tendência provocada por esta medida, o que antes era uma tendência de crescimento instantaneamente se tornou uma tendência de estagnação/declínio.
A geração termoelétrica foi fomentada por políticas públicas que visavam ancorar a expansão da oferta de gás natural no Brasil e complementar a geração hidroelétrica, mas o parque térmico vem desempenhando um papel mais amplo do que este, embora o suprimento de gás continue sendo um gargalo no país. Novos instrumentos regulatórios devem enfrentar ambos os desafios e potencializar a geração térmica.
A hidroeletricidade possui papel relevante e estratégico na matriz elétrica brasileira. O Brasil ainda dispõe de grande potencial dessa fonte renovável, principalmente na região Amazônica. Por ser uma região de grande complexidade, a construção de usinas, como Santo Antônio, Jirau, Teles Pires e Belo Monte, tem estado no meio de debates, principalmente pelos impactos socioambientais que podem causar. No entanto, para que esses impactos sejam evitados, mitigados, compensados e/ou potencializados são propostas medidas, que contribuem, inclusive, para o desenvolvimento regional. A análise das possibilidades de ocorrência desses impactos é relacionada aos atrasos no processo licitatório, indicando a existência de outros problemas, falta de maior articulação entre os diferentes órgãos governamentais, falta de regulamentação e, incerteza em certos encaminhamentos para o processo de licenciamento. Para que as projeções de demanda dadas pelo Plano Decenal de Energia (PDE) sejam atendidas, é preciso que os leilões supram as expectativas criadas pelo plano. Porém, algumas usinas não são licitadas no leilão previsto, em função de atrasos para obtenção da licença prévia, em sua maioria por causa dos desafios citados, causando divergências entre as projeções, um dos motivos pelo qual a data de entrada em operação de uma mesma usina pode sofrer variações de um PDE para outro.
O tema de mudanças climáticas vem sendo associado com a questão energética, em especial as energias renováveis, que são dependentes dos recursos naturais como água e vento, por exemplo. A relevância desta relação deve-se ao fato de, por um lado, as fontes renováveis de energia representarem uma das principais alternativas estratégicas para a mitigação da mudança do clima global. E, por outro lado, ao serem dependentes das condições climáticas, ficam potencialmente sujeitas a impactos do próprio fenômeno que pretendem evitar. No entanto, o segmento de geração de energia elétrica baseado em fontes não renováveis, especificamente das centrais termelétricas, também está sujeito aos impactos das mudanças climáticas, no que se refere ao recurso natural água. Os processos de geração das centrais térmicas são também dependentes das águas para suportar os sistemas de resfriamento. Neste contexto, o trabalho proposto tem como objetivo central estruturar uma revisão da literatura sobre o tema de impactos de mudanças climáticas sobre o setor de energia elétrica no segmento das hidrelétricas e das centrais térmicas, tendo como foco analítico o Brasil, os Estados Unidos e União Europeia, em função da diversidade econômica e da composição da matriz elétrica destas regiões.
O artigo insere-se no projeto de pesquisa “Impacto dos Recursos Energéticos Distribuídos sobre o Setor de Distribuição”, desenvolvido pelo GESEL, financiado pelo Grupo Energisa e vinculado ao Programa de P&D da Aneel. Os autores, Nivalde de Castro, Lorrane Câmara e Max Ramalho, tratam de assuntos debatidos no congresso Brasil Solar Power, no contexto do avanço acelerado da Energia Solar Fotovoltaica. O artigo aborda os temas “comercialização de excedentes”, “questão tributária” e “financiamento”.
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The article is part of the research project “Impact of Distributed Energy Resources on Distribution Sector”, developed by GESEL with Energisa Group and linked to Aneel’s Research and Development program. The authors, Nivalde Castro, Lorrane House and Max Ramalho, deal with issues discussed in Brazil Solar Power Congress in the context of accelerated advance of Photovoltaic Solar Energy. The article discusses the topics “marketing surplus,” “tax issue” and “financing”.
The work aims to analyze UK’s and Brazil’s wholesale electricity trading models. UK’s model, also known as New Electricity Trading Arrangements (NETA), can be considered a reference for the present day electricity markets. Recently UK has implemented a market reform that, while maintaining UK’s market structure, introduced several strong regulatory economic signals in order to foster new investments, both in thermal and in low carbon emission electricity generation. Brazil’s wholesale market model is also noteworthy as it managed to promote large scale investments in low carbon generation in a liberalized market environment. However, Brazil’s regulatory framework design proved fragile during a recent long draught period when short term financial obligations related to imbalance settlements soared and led to financial stress and, eventually to a market halt.
This paper takes the regulatory impact evaluation of the incentive mechanism to improve the technical quality of electricity distributors in Brazil. The methodology proposed by the Brazilian regulatory agency (ANEEL) follows the concept of the mechanism RPI – X know by subtracting the productivity gains in the annual tariff adjustments. Inside the X factor the regulator has created a mechanism that increases the tariff recognition of companies that can improve the quality of service. However, this mechanism does not have an empirical model that corroborates the estimated results and set in a discretionary manner the limits of incentive structure. In this paper we have created an empirical model that confronts the estimated elasticity percentage to increase (or decrease) recognition of costs following a panel fixed effects model. In this statistical model it is possible confront the magnitude of the trade-off in the structure of regulatory incentives linked to the amount of reconnaissance of operation and capital costs. The results indicate that in some underlying criteria the tariff recognition is insufficient to offset the increased costs that ensure the improvement of technical quality in both perspectives: punishment and incentive recognition for operate with better practices, especially in some immature concession areas.
The development of smart grids is a complex, multidimensional process, which contemplates the emergence of new technologies, their dissemination and social acceptance, and also a difficult market-creation phase. Such process is therefore better understood through an interdisciplinary approach. In recent years, the approach of the multilevel perspective (MLP) has gained acceptance as an explanatory dynamic methodology of technological transitions; it is based on the concepts of socio-technological regimes, niches and “landscapes”. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the smart grids in Brazil based on the theoretical framework multi-level perspective. The analysis of the status quo and perspectives of development of smart grids in Brazil requires prior knowledge of the motivations and challenges involved. The Brazilian landscape in which smart grids are embedded points to efficiency gains, to the promotion of a more reliable system, and to higher quality as key drivers for the transition, in a context of significant growth in demand. But, it is noteworthy that the current regulatory framework does not encourage investment in network modernization (development of smart grids). Thus, existing smart grid projects in Brazil are currently restricted to early-stage research and development projects, particularly pilot projects.
Since the second half of the 1980s, when electric utilities were first privatized, the ability of the private sector to manage the supply of electricity with safety and quality has become a matter of high relevance for national governments wherever privatization has taken place. In this regard, the severe financial problems that have affected some electric utilities in different countries from time to time, have made it increasingly clear that exposure to financial risk can compromise a utility’s ability to maintain service quality and continuity, and therefore that regulatory authorities should pay attention to the identification and control of utilities’ financial risk exposure. This article aims to explore the factors that could contribute to the financial vulnerability of electricity distribution companies, in order to identify potential instruments for risk recognition and management. This study also proposes to examine possible regulatory policies for monitoring and addressing financial sustainability problems in these companies, a topic which has so far received scant attention in the international literature on electricity regulation. Lastly, this paper will evaluate the feasibility of regulating the financial exposure of electricity distributors.
In 2004 came into force a new model for the Brazilian Electricity Sector (BES). This model was established based on three pillars: expansion of the installed capacity, reasonable tariffs and universalization of the access to electricity. The main change that took place was the resumption of the energy planning for the State’s responsibility, which had been transferred to private players in the previous liberal period. This resumption takes place through the creation of the Empresa de Pesquisa Energética (EPE), whose purpose is the development of studies and researches to support the planning of the energy sector, guiding the government and industry players in their decision making process and guidelines establishment. Among the major studies carried out by EPE is the Plano Decenal de Expansão de Energia (PDE), that annually formulates forecasts for the expansion of the supply and demand of energy for a period of 10 years ahead, therefore becoming an important planning tool for the BES. Thus, the PDE indicates the future electricity mix for the sector. However, EPE’s planning is only indicative, making it essential to analyze whether their propositions occur in reality. Therefore, the procurement of installed capacity to be added to the BES and the sources that will compose this future mix need to be investigated. Moreover, with the new model, the procurement of new installed capacity starts to occur through energy auctions. In these auctions, the concession of new plants occurs and it is guaranteed the future supply to attend the demand anticipated by the distribution companies for the regulated consumers. The electricity auctions aim to contract energy with reasonable tariffs. In order for that to happen, the criterion used to define the winner is the lowest rate offered. Thus it is through the electricity auctions that the government coordinates the expansion of the generating capacity and the winner sources will compose the future electricity mix. The composition derived from the results of the auctions often differs from the projections of the PDE, making this differentiation the central object of analysis in this article. In that way, the question that arises is what are the causes that explain the differences between the results of these energy auctions and what it was projected and estimated by EPE in its ten-year planning. The article seeks to make a comparison of PDE’s projections since its first formulation in 2006, with the results of the new energy auctions held so far. Essentially, it seeks to answer if, through the indicative planning and the auctions, we are in fact moving towards a strategic electricity mix for the BES.