ocean energy

Brazil looks for alternatives to hydro power plants

Sunday, 06 May 2007

Brazil with its ever growing population and industrialization which go hand in hand with its membership in the BRIC group of countries is starting to look for alternatives for hydro power plants. The issue revolves mainly about the plausibility and the environmental impact of building further plants.
President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was quoted as saying earlier this week that if Brazil cannot construct further hydro power plants it may have to look towards hydro power to meet its ever growing power needs. The president had ruled out solar and wind due to the usage schemes associated with these types of power. Lula and his government have actively looked to build two large scale dams in the Amazon basin.

Petrobras the national oil company of Brazil wouldn’t be able to supply gas and fossil fuels to meet increasing demands in the future. Lula will have to soon decide whether to build a 1,350 MW nuclear power station which would cost 1,5 billion USD in the near future. Brazil is unique in its power production as it meets 90% of its energy needs with hydro power, at the same time transportation energy needs are meet with biofuels. Brazil is also being touted as a being a new Saudi Arabia of biofuels able to supply itself and perhaps America in the future with it.