Energy Auctions in Brazil

Introduction

Brazil has an energy auction system to expand transmission lines and buy electricity generated by new power plants. The auction system should guarantee that energy services follow the compliance of pre-defined quality standards combined with the cheapest possible price. In this system, every technically qualified company can participate at auctions offering its services. This stimulates the opening of the market and the increase of competition. All these factors together promote the reduction of electricity generation costs. Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH supports its partner, the Brazilian Energy Planning Authority EPE (port. Empresa de Pesquisa Energética), at enhancing the conditions for the participation of renewable energies at energy auctions. This includes the improvement of regulations, long-term monitoring of potentials to adequate auctions according energy demands and preparing auctions for the entry of innovative energy sources.

Summary of energy auctions felled from renewable energy sources - Sumário dos leilões de energia provenientes de fontes renováveis (2015)

This spreadsheet gives an overview about the results of the energy auctions with participation of renewable energies from 2007 to 2015. It offers information about how many projects were registered, qualified and finally contracted, what was their potential and what was the price achieved in the auction.

Wind energy auctions

The first exclusive wind energy auction was realized in 2009. 71 wind energy projects with a potential of two Gigawatt (GW) were contracted. Since then, wind energy turned competitive and could subsequently dispute with other energy sources in the auctions. Till date, there were 14 auctions with a participation of wind energy, totalizing 561 contracted wind energy projects with a capacity of 14 GW till 2019 and an average price of aproximately R$ 125,00/MWh.

Increasing the knowledge of wind potential

The monitoring system for anemometric measurement (port. Acompanhamento de Medições Anemomêtricas - AMA) was created in 2010 in order to establish a database for wind measurement data. It increases the knowledge about the wind energy potential in different Brazilian regions, enabling further studies and strengthening the participation of wind energy in the Brazilian energy mix. AMA´s data comes from anemometric and climatic towers whose installation is obligatory for wind energy ventures that won a lot in an energy auction. In 2011, nearly 70 towers initiated data transmission and 370 are expected to enter into operation until the end of 2015.

Stochastic modeling of wind power generation for energy studies - Modelagem Estocástica da Geração Eólica para Estudos Energéticos (2010)

Anticipating the creation of the AMA system, the project “Stochastic modelling of wind power generation for energy studies” aims on the explorative analysis of wind energy data. In this study, wind data obtained by three power plants in Ceará-state from 1999 to 2009 and from a synthetic series built for the period 1976 – 2008 were evaluated. The aim was to obtain a wind statistical modelling to perfume studies, such as correlation of wind and water in electricity generation.

Classification methodology of weather stations for wind potential studies - Coleta de dados de vento estrategicamente distribuídos pelo território nacional (2010)

In order to establish a long term wind measurement system for wind energy studies, 47 Brazilian meteorological stations were chosen to provide necessary data of wind. This study gives information about the selection process of the stations according the therefore elaborated methodology and shows their distribution on the national territory. 

Management of the long term wind energy database - Gerenciamento de banco de dados de vento de longo prazo (2011)

The implementation of a wind energy database needed to be prepared carefully. In this study, formal criteria to maintain this database are defined, such as: type of data records, classification, filtering and consolidation of data.

Consistency and exploration analysis of meteorological data - Análise de Consistência e Exploratória de Dados Meteorológicos (2012)

After the introduction of AMA as computational tool for the elaboration of a wind energy database, it was necessary to supply it with data consistent and reliable quality, which requires a prior analysis of the consistency of measurements before forming part of the bank.  This study shows how to ensure these data checking physical limits, others measurements, temporal behavior etc.

Technical note about installation instructions and reporting of maintenance of the AMA system anemometric stations –

NOTA TÉCNICA DEA 04/13 leilões de energia: Instruções para a elaboração de relatórios de instalação e manutenção das estações anemométricas do sistema AMA (2013)

This technical note gives specifications on how to elaborate the report about the installation and maintenance of the wind measurement stations of the AMA system. The installation report  suggests include information about the localization of measurement stations, description of the towers, installed measurement instruments as well as verification of their functioning and the certificates for calibration of anemometers.

Technical note about instructions for wind speed and climatologic measurements in wind farms -

NOTA TÉCNICA DEA 08/14 leilões de energia: Instruções para as medições anemométricas e climatológicas em parques eólicos (2014)

Since 2011, anemometric measurement is legally obligatory for wind energy ventures that obtain auctioned capacities[1] in order to generate and transmit data of the AMA system. To structure this process, this technical note from EPE gives specifications on characteristics of the measurement stations, equipment and how to register the stations. It also defines the format for transmitted data.

Application of wind energy data

Development of a Wind Index Concept for Brazil (2013)

Wind indexes can compare the wind behavior of a region with the performance of turbines or wind farms.. In this study, it shows a methodology to group regions with similar wind behavior and then compare the wind conditions of locals inside the area with a reference value of this area, be it monthly, yearly etc. These indexes are also important to identify long-term correlations among wind supply and water level in the river basins, which, in a country like Brazil with a high percentage of hydro generation, can improve energy planning significantly.

Methodology for the actualization of the Brazilian wind power atlas –Metodologia de atualização do Atlas Eólico Brasileiro (2013)

The Brazilian Wind Atlas was developed in 2001 to map the Brazilian wind energy potential. This study develops a methodology to renew the atlas, considering that wind measurement tools, mathematical and terrain models, satellite data   improved significantly during the last decade and new data generated in the framework of AMA that could now be included into the atlas.

Further Information - Wind Data

• Proposta de um Modelo para Seleção de Estações Meteorológicas (2010)
• Wind Energy Country Analyses Brazil