Energy Efficiency Planning Instruments in Brazil

Overview

This article informs about the selection and implementation process of different energy efficiency planning instruments in Brazil. The Brazilian Energy Planning Authority EPE (port. Empresa de Pesquisa Energética) was thereby supported by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH.

Introduction

Energy efficiency policies still play a marginal role in Brazil. Since the beginning of the century, however, the country is gradually building a regulatory framework to develop such policies, accompanied by energy efficiency monitoring to improve future planning. In order to understand the quality and quantities of energy efficiency and to stimulate further progress in efficient use of energy, EPE aimed on a refinement and completion of their modelling and forecast methodologies. Therefore, different energy efficiency planning instruments, belonging to bottom-up and top-down approaches, were discussed before choosing the right ones for the Brazilian context, harnessing lessons-learned from other countries. The data generated by these instruments should lead to the establishment of a Brazilian energy efficiency data accounting system. 

Conception / Preparation

Within the framework of designing complementary energy efficiency policies in Brazil, the first step consisted in the elaboration of a baseline study to identify the state of the art and the promotion of knowledge exchange between Brazil and other countries on best practices applying energy efficiency planning instruments and policies abroad. This chapter informs about the knowledge sharing process that afterwards led to the development of specific, demand-oriented energy efficiency planning instruments for Brazil. 

State of the art of energy efficiency in Brazil and proposals for improvement - Estado da arte da eficiência energética no Brasil e propostas de melhorias (2009)

This baseline-study gives an overview about the state of the art of energy efficiency policies and monitoring systems in Brazil. The study concludes that since beginning of the century,many energy efficiency policies have been introduced and some actions have been carried on by the authorities to implement comprehensive accounting systems to monitor the energy savings induced by the policies. However, improving the monitoring system would lead to better understanding on how to complement the policy mix. 

Assessment of the current situation and state of the art of energy efficiency in Brazil (2009)

This study gives an overview on international instruments to evaluate the energy efficiency levels in a country and formats to collect and organize data for the accounting system. The authors make proposals of energy efficiency indicators for each Brazilian sector (transport, industry etc.) by applying a “top-down-approach“. Recommendations target the creation of a comprehensive monitoring database with those indicators and use it as an energy efficiency planning instrument in Brazil.