Brazil is able to have 93% renewable energy by 2050

The document was presented at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP-16), in Cancun this week. According to the report, the use of clean energy would create 3 million jobs and coal thermal plants, diesel and nuclear plants wouls no longer be necessary.

Natural gas would account for 7.3% of Brazil’s energy mix, ocean energy 0.77%, hydroelectric plants 45.6%, wind power 20.3%, biomass 16.6% and solar energy 9.26%.

Meanwhile, a scenario based on government data shows that by 2050 wind energy would account for 6% of the energy mix, while biomass for 8.85% and solar power for less than 1%. Hydroelectric power would account for 56.3%, natural gas 15.9%, oil 5.35% and nuclear power 5.31%.

In just 40 years, Brazil has the potential to reach 93% renewable energy and not long after that, could even reach 100% renewable, IF they have the political will. The country has enough wind power, sun, biomass and hydropower to fill its energy needs, triple consumption while increasing GDP by four times and decrease its carbon emission until 2050. Sound impressive? It’s all outlined in the new version of the Brazilian Energy [R]evolution launched this week!

This future is good for the environment, even better for the economy. The scenarios projected by the report prove that investing in renewable creates green jobs and saves money – up to hundreds of billions of dollars in the period.

“In 2050, Brazil can emit far less CO2 in the atmosphere – 23 million tons – than if the government insist on investing in fossil fuels – approximately 147 million tons”, says Ricardo Baitelo, Brazil´s Energy Campaigner and coordinator of the report.

Inspiring news at a moment when the worlds eyes are turned towards all countries’ initiatives on reducing their carbon emissions in order to stop climate change.

www.greenpeace.org/brasil/Global/brasil/report/2010/11/revolucaoenergeticadeslimpo.PDF