Last week, the federal government announced that it was evaluating implementing the return of the The objective would be to save energy and optimize generation from solar and wind sources, reducing dependence on hydroelectric plants during peak hours.
Today, practically half of all energy generated in Brazil is produced through hydroelectric plants. The current climate scenario, marked by high temperatures and lack of rain, however, has significantly impacted this sector.
The Santo Antônio plant, located in Rondônia, for example, shut down part of its generating units at the beginning of September due to a lack of sufficient water in the river.
One of the ways to compensate for the loss of energy generated by hydroelectric plants would be through wind and solar plants, which currently represent 15% and 7.5% of national production, respectively.
However, these energy sources pose challenges at times of peak demand, between 6pm and 7pm. At this time, solar energy is no longer generated and wind production loses efficiency.
This combination of insufficiency of the three main energy sources has complicated the operation of the national electrical system. Demand for energy between September 1st and 8th, for example, exceeded the average megawatt load recorded during the last water crisis in 2021 by 13%.
As a result, it was necessary to activate thermoelectric plants, taking the energy bill back to the red flag, the most expensive. It is in this scenario that the return of summer time is proposed as an alternative to relieve pressure on the electrical system.
By advancing the clock by one hour, there is a reduction in energy demand between 6pm and 7pm and wind and solar plants could be used during these hours. However, the effectiveness of this initiative is questionable. Today, peak demand is not only concentrated in the late afternoon.
Because of the high temperatures, energy use for air conditioning and fans, for example, is frequent throughout the day. This was even the justification used by the government of Jair Bolsonaro (PL) in 2019 to extinguish the
The minister argues, however, that any measure to save the energy sector during the great drought must be evaluated.
“When there is any possibility that points to a path to a solution to low tariffs and sector security, it is important to be evaluated. So, we are in the phase of evaluating whether or not daylight saving time is necessary,” he said.
Furthermore, the minister states that summer time also boosts economic sectors such as tourism and bar and restaurant trade, which see an increase in activity during the longer day period.
The ministry is carrying out a study on the feasibility of resuming the system, which should be completed this week.
A meeting between the Ministry of Mines and Energy and the Electricity Sector Monitoring Committee (CMSE) to define whether there will be a return to summer time is scheduled for this Thursday (19).
