IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/enepol/v39y2011i3p1027-1030.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Making the case for grid-connected photovoltaics in Brazil

Author

Listed:
  • Rüther, Ricardo
  • Zilles, Roberto

Abstract

In the developed world, grid-connected photovoltaics (PVs) are the fastest-growing segment of the energy market. From 1999 to 2009, this industry had a 42% compound annual growth-rate. From 2009 to 2013, it is expected to grow to 45%, and in 2013 the achievement of grid parity - when the cost of solar electricity becomes competitive with conventional retail (including taxes and charges) grid-supplied electricity - is expected in many places worldwide. Grid-connected PV is usually perceived as an energy technology for developed countries, whereas isolated, stand-alone PV is considered as more suited for applications in developing nations, where so many individuals still lack access to electricity. This rationale is based on the still high costs of PV when compared with conventional electricity. We make the case for grid-connected PV generation in Brazil, showing that with the declining costs of PV and the rising prices of conventional electricity, urban populations in Brazil will also enjoy grid parity in the present decade. We argue that governments in developing nations should act promptly and establish the mandates and necessary conditions for their energy industry to accumulate experience in grid-connected PV, and make the most of this benign technology in the near future.

Suggested Citation

  • Rüther, Ricardo & Zilles, Roberto, 2011. "Making the case for grid-connected photovoltaics in Brazil," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(3), pages 1027-1030, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:39:y:2011:i:3:p:1027-1030
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301-4215(10)00921-3
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Midttun, Atle & Gautesen, Kristian, 2007. "Feed in or certificates, competition or complementarity? Combining a static efficiency and a dynamic innovation perspective on the greening of the energy industry," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(3), pages 1419-1422, March.
    2. Krauter, S & Rüther, R, 2004. "Considerations for the calculation of greenhouse gas reduction by photovoltaic solar energy," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 29(3), pages 345-355.
    3. Nemet, Gregory F., 2009. "Interim monitoring of cost dynamics for publicly supported energy technologies," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(3), pages 825-835, March.
    4. Martins, F.R. & Rüther, R. & Pereira, E.B. & Abreu, S.L., 2008. "Solar energy scenarios in Brazil. Part two: Photovoltaics applications," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(8), pages 2855-2867, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Oliva H., Sebastian, 2017. "Residential energy efficiency and distributed generation - Natural partners or competition?," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 932-940.
    2. Shahmohammadi, M. Sadegh & Mohd. Yusuff, Rosnah & Keyhanian, Sina & Shakouri G., Hamed, 2015. "A decision support system for evaluating effects of Feed-in Tariff mechanism: Dynamic modeling of Malaysia’s electricity generation mix," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 217-229.
    3. Sorgato, M.J. & Schneider, K. & Rüther, R., 2018. "Technical and economic evaluation of thin-film CdTe building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) replacing façade and rooftop materials in office buildings in a warm and sunny climate," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 84-98.
    4. Vahl, Fabrício Peter & Rüther, Ricardo & Casarotto Filho, Nelson, 2013. "The influence of distributed generation penetration levels on energy markets," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 226-235.
    5. Ferreira, Agmar & Kunh, Sheila S. & Fagnani, Kátia C. & De Souza, Tiago A. & Tonezer, Camila & Dos Santos, Geocris Rodrigues & Coimbra-Araújo, Carlos H., 2018. "Economic overview of the use and production of photovoltaic solar energy in brazil," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 81(P1), pages 181-191.
    6. Lacchini, Corrado & Rüther, Ricardo, 2015. "The influence of government strategies on the financial return of capital invested in PV systems located in different climatic zones in Brazil," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 786-798.
    7. Oliva H., Sebastian & MacGill, Iain & Passey, Rob, 2016. "Assessing the short-term revenue impacts of residential PV systems on electricity customers, retailers and network service providers," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 1494-1505.
    8. José de Castro Vieira, Samuel & Tapia Carpio, Lucio Guido, 2020. "The economic impact on residential fees associated with the expansion of grid-connected solar photovoltaic generators in Brazil," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 159(C), pages 1084-1098.
    9. Rutovitz, Jay & Oliva H., Sebastian & McIntosh, Lawrence & Langham, Ed & Teske, Sven & Atherton, Alison & Kelly, Scott, 2018. "Local network credits and local electricity trading: Results of virtual trials and the policy implications," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 324-334.
    10. Hélio Henrique Cunha Pinheiro & Neilton Fidélis da Silva & David Alves Castelo Branco & Márcio Giannini Pereira, 2020. "Photovoltaic Solar Systems in Multi-Headquarter Institutions: A Technical Implementation in Northeastern Brazil," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-28, May.
    11. Freitas, Jader de Sousa & Cronemberger, Joára & Soares, Raí Mariano & Amorim, Cláudia Naves David, 2020. "Modeling and assessing BIPV envelopes using parametric Rhinoceros plugins Grasshopper and Ladybug," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 160(C), pages 1468-1479.
    12. Marques Filho, Edson P. & Oliveira, Amauri P. & Vita, Willian A. & Mesquita, Francisco L.L. & Codato, Georgia & Escobedo, João F. & Cassol, Mariana & França, José Ricardo A., 2016. "Global, diffuse and direct solar radiation at the surface in the city of Rio de Janeiro: Observational characterization and empirical modeling," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 91(C), pages 64-74.
    13. de Faria, Haroldo & Trigoso, Federico B.M. & Cavalcanti, João A.M., 2017. "Review of distributed generation with photovoltaic grid connected systems in Brazil: Challenges and prospects," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 469-475.
    14. Aghamolaei, Reihaneh & Shamsi, Mohammad Haris & O’Donnell, James, 2020. "Feasibility analysis of community-based PV systems for residential districts: A comparison of on-site centralized and distributed PV installations," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 793-808.
    15. Portolan dos Santos, Ísis & Rüther, Ricardo, 2014. "Limitations in solar module azimuth and tilt angles in building integrated photovoltaics at low latitude tropical sites in Brazil," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 116-124.
    16. Dias, César Luiz de Azevedo & Castelo Branco, David Alves & Arouca, Maurício Cardoso & Loureiro Legey, Luiz Fernando, 2017. "Performance estimation of photovoltaic technologies in Brazil," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 114(PB), pages 367-375.
    17. Andrade Furtado, Gilton Carlos de & Amarante Mesquita, André Luiz & Morabito, Alessandro & Hendrick, Patrick & Hunt, Julian D., 2020. "Using hydropower waterway locks for energy storage and renewable energies integration," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 275(C).
    18. Julio Cesar Silva Junior & Andrei Lucas Michaelsen & Mauro Scalvi & Miguel Gomes Pacheco, 2020. "Forecast of electric energy generation potential from swine manure in Santa Catarina, Brazil," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 22(3), pages 2305-2319, March.
    19. Schmidt, Johannes & Cancella, Rafael & Pereira, Amaro O., 2016. "The role of wind power and solar PV in reducing risks in the Brazilian hydro-thermal power system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 115(P3), pages 1748-1757.
    20. Pottmaier, D. & Melo, C.R. & Sartor, M.N. & Kuester, S. & Amadio, T.M. & Fernandes, C.A.H. & Marinha, D. & Alarcon, O.E., 2013. "The Brazilian energy matrix: From a materials science and engineering perspective," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 19(C), pages 678-691.
    21. Mitscher, Martin & Rüther, Ricardo, 2012. "Economic performance and policies for grid-connected residential solar photovoltaic systems in Brazil," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 688-694.
    22. Malagueta, Diego & Szklo, Alexandre & Borba, Bruno Soares Moreira Cesar & Soria, Rafael & Aragão, Raymundo & Schaeffer, Roberto & Dutra, Ricardo, 2013. "Assessing incentive policies for integrating centralized solar power generation in the Brazilian electric power system," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 59(C), pages 198-212.
    23. Hsu, Chiung-Wen, 2012. "Using a system dynamics model to assess the effects of capital subsidies and feed-in tariffs on solar PV installations," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 100(C), pages 205-217.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Finney, Karen N. & Sharifi, Vida N. & Swithenbank, Jim, 2012. "The negative impacts of the global economic downturn on funding decentralised energy in the UK," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 290-300.
    2. Mitscher, Martin & Rüther, Ricardo, 2012. "Economic performance and policies for grid-connected residential solar photovoltaic systems in Brazil," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 688-694.
    3. Sanzana Tabassum & Tanvin Rahman & Ashraf Ul Islam & Sumayya Rahman & Debopriya Roy Dipta & Shidhartho Roy & Naeem Mohammad & Nafiu Nawar & Eklas Hossain, 2021. "Solar Energy in the United States: Development, Challenges and Future Prospects," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-65, December.
    4. repec:spo:wpecon:info:hdl:2441/f6h8764enu2lskk9p544jc8op is not listed on IDEAS
    5. Samadi, Sascha, 2018. "The experience curve theory and its application in the field of electricity generation technologies – A literature review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 82(P3), pages 2346-2364.
    6. Strupeit, Lars & Neij, Lena, 2017. "Cost dynamics in the deployment of photovoltaics: Insights from the German market for building-sited systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 948-960.
    7. Fang, Yiping & Wei, Yanqiang, 2013. "Climate change adaptation on the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau: The importance of solar energy utilization for rural household," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 18(C), pages 508-518.
    8. Miranda, Raul F.C. & Szklo, Alexandre & Schaeffer, Roberto, 2015. "Technical-economic potential of PV systems on Brazilian rooftops," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 694-713.
    9. Tsikalakis, A.G. & Hatziargyriou, N.D., 2007. "Environmental benefits of distributed generation with and without emissions trading," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(6), pages 3395-3409, June.
    10. Wang, Hsiao-Fan & Sung, Meng-Ping & Hsu, Hsin-Wei, 2016. "Complementarity and substitution of renewable energy in target year energy supply-mix plannin–in the case of Taiwan," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 172-182.
    11. van den Broek, Machteld & Berghout, Niels & Rubin, Edward S., 2015. "The potential of renewables versus natural gas with CO2 capture and storage for power generation under CO2 constraints," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 1296-1322.
    12. Walker, S.L., 2012. "Can the GB feed-in tariff deliver the expected 2% of electricity from renewable sources?," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 383-388.
    13. Till Requate, 2015. "Green tradable certificates versus feed-in tariffs in the promotion of renewable energy shares," Environmental Economics and Policy Studies, Springer;Society for Environmental Economics and Policy Studies - SEEPS, vol. 17(2), pages 211-239, April.
    14. Haneen Abuzaid & Fatin Samara, 2022. "Environmental and Economic Impact Assessments of a Photovoltaic Rooftop System in the United Arab Emirates," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-27, November.
    15. Fragkos, Panagiotis & Kouvaritakis, Nikos, 2018. "Model-based analysis of Intended Nationally Determined Contributions and 2 °C pathways for major economies," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 160(C), pages 965-978.
    16. Portolan dos Santos, Ísis & Rüther, Ricardo, 2014. "Limitations in solar module azimuth and tilt angles in building integrated photovoltaics at low latitude tropical sites in Brazil," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 116-124.
    17. Martins, F.R. & Abreu, S.L. & Pereira, E.B., 2012. "Scenarios for solar thermal energy applications in Brazil," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 640-649.
    18. Silva, Tatiane C. & Pinto, Gabriel M. & de Souza, Túlio A.Z. & Valerio, Victor & Silvério, Naidion M. & Coronado, Christian J.R. & Guardia, Eduardo Crestana, 2020. "Technical and economical evaluation of the photovoltaic system in Brazilian public buildings: A case study for peak and off-peak hours," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).
    19. del Río, Pablo, 2012. "The dynamic efficiency of feed-in tariffs: The impact of different design elements," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 139-151.
    20. Schmidt, Johannes & Cancella, Rafael & Pereira, Amaro O., 2016. "An optimal mix of solar PV, wind and hydro power for a low-carbon electricity supply in Brazil," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C), pages 137-147.
    21. Americano da Costa, Marcus V. & Pasamontes, Manuel & Normey-Rico, Julio E. & Guzmán, José L. & Berenguel, Manuel, 2013. "Viability and application of ethanol production coupled with solar cooling," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 501-509.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:39:y:2011:i:3:p:1027-1030. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/enpol .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.