US-based, Pew Center on Global Climate Change has released a new study that examines several power development scenarios for Brazil, in order to reduce power industry emissions without compromising economic growth. The report, Electric Power Options in Brazil, says the per capita consumption of electricity is about 1790kWh each year, approximately one-seventh of the average consumption in the US.
The study also points out that Brazil produces very little greenhouse gas emissions relative to its size and population. This is mainly due to the use of hydro power which produces the bulk of Brazil’s electricity. But the country’s greenhouse gas emissions are expected to quadruple over the next 20 years, as new investments favour natural gas fired combined cycle plants that would increase carbon dioxide emissions from 3.4Mt in 1995 to 14.5Mt in 2015.
The study was performed by the Energy Planning Program, Center for Technology, and the Battelle Advanced International Studies Unit of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro.