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An Air Pollutant Emission Analysis of Brazilian Electricity Production Projections and Other Countries

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  • Rafaella de Souza Henriques

    (Graduate Program in Electrical Engineering—Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais—Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
    Department of Applied Social Sciences—Centro Federal de Educação Tecnológica de Minas Gerais—Av. Amazonas, 7675, 30510-000 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil)

  • Rodney Rezende Saldanha

    (Graduate Program in Electrical Engineering—Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais—Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
    Department of Electrical Engineering—Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais—Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil)

  • Lineker Max Goulart Coelho

    (Department of Civil Engineering—Centro Federal de Educação Tecnológica de Minas Gerais—Av. Amazonas, 7675, 30510-000 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil)

Abstract

In the face of the population’s growing awareness about environmental degradation, air pollutant emissions from electricity production become a very relevant issue. Therefore, the present work aims to evaluate the greenhouse gases (GHG), NO x and SO 2 emissions in the Brazilian electricity production, using the expected capacity expansion from Ten-Year Energy Expansion Plan-2027, the current installed capacity of power generation and the electrical load factor. This study was based on data provided by official institutions that are responsible for the electricity sector as well as academic studies of the area. In order to obtain a better analysis of the most likely air pollutant emission values bounds, a Monte Carlo simulation was performed. In addition, the 2017 energy production emissions from Brazil, France, China, and the USA were evaluated and compared. The results indicate that non-renewable sources of energy have a negative environmental impact. In general, the emissions of CO 2 -eq and NO x per MWh are increasing according to Brazilian energy generation projections, but when compared with global indicator Brazil has an affordable electricity mix in terms of air pollutant emissions.

Suggested Citation

  • Rafaella de Souza Henriques & Rodney Rezende Saldanha & Lineker Max Goulart Coelho, 2019. "An Air Pollutant Emission Analysis of Brazilian Electricity Production Projections and Other Countries," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-19, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:12:y:2019:i:15:p:2851-:d:251220
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Guangjun Yang & Xiaoxiao Li & Li Ding & Fahua Zhu & Zhigang Wang & Sheng Wang & Zhen Xu & Jingxin Xu & Pengxiang Qiu & Zhaobing Guo, 2019. "CFD Simulation of Pollutant Emission in a Natural Draft Dry Cooling Tower with Flue Gas Injection: Comparison between LES and RANS," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-21, September.

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