The role of thermal power plants in reducing energy tariffs!

The role of thermal power plants in reducing energy tariffs!

In the coming years, the thermoelectric plants will gain space in the Brazilian matrix, moving millions of reais in the modernization and installation of new units.

Do you know how thermal power plants work and how they can help reduce energy tariffs? In the country, for many years, the generation of energy took place almost exclusively by hydroelectric plants. However, this single source has already brought losses, when the period of scarcity of rain lengthened, reducing energy capacity and generating blackouts and high energy rates.

Thus, there was a need to expand and add new sources of production to the Brazilian energy system, in order to generate diversification and security in the matrix, and thermoelectric plants are one of those options. To better understand this model and the benefits of your investment, continue reading this content.

What is the importance of thermal power plants in Brazil?

A thermoelectric plant is an industrial installation for generating electricity that uses any product that can generate heat, such as bagasse, wood waste, fuel oil, natural gas, diesel oil, mineral coal or enriched uranium.

The Brazilian electrical system needs to increase the security of the grid and to face the intermittency of renewable sources. After all, these sources still cannot guarantee a large flow of energy, leaving production hostage to seasonality. Thus, until 2030, the government aims to modernize and invest in the set of thermoelectric plants in the country, emphasizing those that use natural gas as an input.

By investing in thermoelectric plants, it is possible to increase the predictability of costs and better meet different demands. Coal or nuclear power plants are ideal for constant supply, meeting basic demand. Diesel and oil thermoelectric power plants are appropriate for peak demand and natural gas plants can be designed to meet peak demands, as well as more constant operation.

Why can this model be a solution for reducing tariffs?

Unlike many countries in the world, Brazil is highly competitive in terms of renewable energy prices, but why does the energy tariff for the final consumer not decrease?

The answer is the subsidies granted together with taxes and duties, which can reach 50% of the electricity bill. But, in addition to these factors, there is also a predominance of energy supply from intermittent sources, such as hydroelectric, wind and solar. Thus, as they are sources that do not facilitate the storage of inputs, the value is determined according to the supply / demand of the moment.

Therefore, the solution lies in investing in thermoelectric plants. By modernizing the existing models and creating new plants powered by natural gas or coal, it is possible to reduce expenses by millions of reais. In fact, if the government had invested in these changes since the beginning of the decade, the improvement would already be noticeable. However, there is still time for these investments.

Therefore, investing in natural gas thermal plants is necessary, as they are more efficient and cheaper than open cycle plants, allowing for tariff reduction. After all, thermals would help to reduce the oscillation between supply and demand.

PDE 2029 already considers this expansion in one third of the natural gas plants and the remaining two thirds would be renewable, such as wind and solar. This expansion may attract more investments in infrastructure, flow and processing of national natural gas, generating more jobs and income in the sector, and reducing energy tariffs for the final consumer.

Thus, thermoelectric plants have a strategic role in reducing energy tariffs, as well as bringing more security and stability to the Brazilian matrix. Did you like this content? Want to better understand how a thermal power plant works? So, read this content on our blog.

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