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Brazil

Overview

AttributeValue
SSS Relevance⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very High
Market TypeLiberalized (ACL) + Regulated (ACR)
Key Clean ResourcesHydro (56%), Wind (14%), Solar (9%), Nuclear (2%)
EAC SystemI-REC
Grid Carbon Intensity~70-100 gCO2/kWh (one of world's lowest)

Brazil has one of the world's cleanest electricity grids, with ~88% renewable generation in 2024. Massive hydropower capacity combined with growing wind and solar creates exceptional SSS potential.

SSS Relevance

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very High — Brazil offers exceptional SSS potential due to:

  • Massive hydro (56% of generation, including Itaipu)
  • Operating nuclear (Angra 1 & 2, ~2% of generation)
  • 88% renewable grid — extremely clean residual mix
  • Growing wind/solar — but most I-REC tracked

SSS-Eligible Resources

Resource TypeCapacity/OutputSSS Classification
Nuclear~2 GW (Angra 1 & 2)✅ Clearly SSS — not I-REC tracked
Legacy Hydro~110 GW, ~56%⚠️ Much tracks via I-REC; older plants potential SSS

Operating Nuclear Plants:

  • Angra 1 (640 MW, operational 1985)
  • Angra 2 (1,350 MW, operational 2001)
  • Angra 3 (under construction, 1,405 MW, expected late 2020s)

Major Hydro:

  • Itaipu (14 GW, shared with Paraguay)
  • Belo Monte (11.2 GW)
  • Tucuruí (8.4 GW)
  • Jirau, Santo Antônio, Ilha Solteira, many others

Market Structure

Regulator: ANEEL (Agência Nacional de Energia Elétrica)

Market Model:

  • ACR (Ambiente de Contratação Regulada): Regulated market for captive consumers
  • ACL (Ambiente de Contratação Livre): Free market for large consumers

Grid Operator: ONS (Operador Nacional do Sistema Elétrico)

Market Operator: CCEE (Câmara de Comercialização de Energia Elétrica)

Major Generators:

  • Eletrobras (largest), CPFL, Engie, AES, Neoenergia

Clean Energy Policy

PolicyStatus
Net Zero Target2050
Renewable ShareAlready ~88%
Nuclear PolicySupportive — Angra 3 under construction
DecarbonizationFocus on transport, not electricity (already clean)

EAC Infrastructure

Primary System: I-REC

AttributeDetails
I-REC IssuerInstituto Totum, others
ScopeRenewables
Market SizeOne of world's largest I-REC markets

Important for SSS: Brazil's nuclear plants (Angra 1 & 2) do not participate in I-REC. Nuclear generation flows to grid as default delivered power, clearly SSS-eligible.

Emissions Factors

SourceValueUse Case
Brazilian Grid Average~70-100 gCO2/kWhLocation-based Scope 2
Regional FactorsVary by subsystem (S, SE/CO, N, NE)More precise reporting
Residual MixVery low (hydro-dominant)Market-based Scope 2

Data Sources

References

  1. Ember, "Brazil Electricity Transition 2024"
  2. IEA, "Brazil Country Profile"