Ecobreves – BRAZIL: Study Calls for More Biomass and Wind Energy

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RIO DE JANEIRO, Sep 7 2009 (IPS) - Energy from biomass and from wind, still underutilized, should be a priority to complement Brazil's hydroelectric base, according to a study by the Federal University of Brazil. The importance of these sources is on the rise because the big hydroelectric dams being built in the Amazon region will have limited production capacity in the seasons when the rivers run low, says research coordinator Nivalde de Castro.

The country is rich in biomass, especially sugarcane pulp, due to increased production of ethanol. “Other residues can be used, but the pulp is advantageous because it's available near large urban centers and because the plants already have experience” in generating energy, Castro said in a Tierramérica interview.

Wind energy has enormous space for expansion, though its potential is concentrated in the Northeast, where there electrical transmission lines are scarce, he said.