Future biomass-based electricity supply in Northeast Brazil

摘要: Hydroelectric resources in the semi-arid Northeast of Brazil will be exhausted about year 2000. Unless viable alternatives can found, relatively high-cost hydroelectric environmentally-sensitive North (Amazon) region tapped after 2000 to meet electricity demands Northeast. The Company Sao Francisco (CHESF), federally-owned utility responsible for generation and transmission bulk Northeast, initiated studies 1982 quantify potential establishing a widespread biomass-based generating system its service territory as an alternative hydro expansion. analysis here builds on these studies, includes possibility converting biomass into using advanced gas-turbine technologies that are now focus commercial demonstration projects elsewhere. Existing sugarcane residues future production wood dedicated plantations could used generate annually up 41 TWh 1400 electricity, respectively, compared CHESF's present total annual 30 TWh. cost most biomass-derived would under 4.5 cents kWh−1, which compares favorably with marginal costs projected Amazon involve lower capital investment. Expansion CHESF based rather than hydropower also bring social benefits, including greater job creation.