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The so-called energy transition has been associated with decreasing dependence on fossil fuel energy and low environmental impacts. Additionally, several communities worldwide still face energy poverty, with no or limited access to energy services. This paper evaluates the environmental and economic aspects related to replacing diesel-based power systems with photovoltaic and battery storage systems in a small indigenous community in northern Brazil. Nine environmental categories were analyzed for the life cycle perspective, from which it was established that the benefits of the photovoltaic system outperformed the diesel-based system in seven of the nine categories i.e., climate change (by a difference of 189.8 t CO 2 -eq over the system's lifetime, i.e., 300 MWh generated over 25 years), fossil depletion (by 66.7 t oil-eq), environmental toxicity (by 1.4 t 1,4-DCB-eq), particulate matter formation (by 1.5 t PM10-eq), photochemical oxidant formation (by 4.8 t NMVOC), terrestrial acidification (by 2.5 t SO 2 -eq), and eutrophication (by 1.7 t nutrients-eq). On the other hand, metal depletion showed similar values for both cases, while the diesel-based system was associated with lower human toxicity (by 14.8 t 1,4-DCB-eq) given the high usage of toxic metals when manufacturing the battery systems. Regarding the economic aspects, from stochastic analysis, the results for replacing diesel-based systems result in average savings of around 9 thousand USD over 25 years. Hopefully, these positive results might stimulate policy efforts that lead to mitigating energy poverty in Brazilian indigenous communities. • LCA and economic analysis of a PV and battery system compared to a diesel-based one. • The PV and battery system is superior in seven out of nine environmental categories. • The PV and battery system leads to savings of around 9 thousand USD over 25 years. • Social benefits are highlighted with a loss of power supply probability of only 0.2%. • The results of the paper might stimulate policy efforts to mitigate energy poverty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The growing demand for electrical power and the limited capital invested to provide this power is forcing countries like Brazil to search for new alternatives for electrical power generation. The purpose of this paper is to present a technical and economic study on a 15kW solar plant installed in an isolated community, highlighting the importance of the need for financial subsidy from the government. It evaluates the importance of parameters such as the annual interest rate, specific investment, the marginal cost of expanding the electrical power supply and the government subsidy on amortization time of capital invested. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In much of the world, there is increasing demand for electricity to serve rural communities, isolated from the existing grids and typified by low-density electrical consumption. Because these non-urban consumer markets require rather high implementation investments (as well as high operation and maintenance costs), new technological and policy options are required to meet the needs of these markets. These consumers typically use energy in daytime peak hours of electricity, typically for lighting, television, and communication—as well as for a variety of cultural habits such as hot water that impose high demands on the utility''s power distribution and generation system. This has been the case in Brazil, making it necessary to identify decentralized generation technologies to meet the potential markets, typically serving rural and poorer areas. The government itself provided the impetus with the passage of the Brazilian “Universalization Law” that mandated supplying electricity access for the entire population by the year 2010. This law allows the use of both the distribution grid and renewable energy off-grid technologies. In response, Brazil''s largest state utility, Energetic Company of Minas Gerais (CEMIG) has aggressively implemented the use of decentralized photovoltaic systems to supplement the conventional power grid to satisfy the “universalization” targets. This paper provides a summary of the status and the future prospects of solar photovoltaic Energy in Brasil, within the context of the “universal electricity supply” policy. The focus here is to highlight the successes and the issues experienced to date in the State of Minas Gerais. This includes examining the methods implemented to ensure system reliability for the consumers, as well as the standards established under the Agéncia Nacional de Energy Elétrica (ANEEL), the national regulator electrical agency that ensures compliance with the federal regulations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]