O novo modelo do setor elétrico e suas implicações na cogeração a partir da biomassa.

Abstract

The necessity of the energy matrix diversification has become an alternative due to the shortage of resources for large-scale projects. A further reason on recent events that have changed the world geopolitical scene, raising oil price, indirectly making non-conventional sources viable and bringing the topic to discussion in Europe and in the United States. Following a global trend, Brazil has restructured its electrical business sector and leading institutions involved in energy generation, transmission, distribution, trading and legislation. As Brazil is a large sugar cane producer, the utilization of biomass for energy generation, either electrical or in the form of steam in boilers or furnaces, has already become a reality. From the total number of thermoelectric business ventures registered and authorized to operate from 1999 to 2005, 87% of those, use sugar cane bagasse for energy generation. It is safe then, to conclude that the new model for the electrical business sector has regulated both, the energy independent producer and the energy self-producer, thus, contributing for the opening of new markets, increase of energy availability, employment rates and income levels.