Search

This paper examines the remarkable growth of photovoltaic (PV) solar energy technology in Brazil, which stands out among the leading countries in photovoltaic installations. The recent implementation of Law 14300 on grid-connected PV systems has caused a stir in the Brazilian market, with investors anticipating installations to avoid reductions in benefits. This phenomenon, previously observed in Europe, instigates an understanding of the variables underlying the exponential growth of the Brazilian market. This study seeks to identify the predictors that explain the PV systems diffusion in Brazil, in two stages: a systematic review of the literature to map approaches and methods, followed by the construction of a database and the application of predictive models. The literature revealed 24 methods in six approaches, with 44 predictors. For Brazil, the database contains 90,129 instances, 22 predictors, and covers all 5570 municipalities. The results highlight the crucial importance of the electricity tariff as the main predictor, followed by irradiation and municipal Gross Domestic Product. Predictors such as the number of companies, minimum wage, HDI education, demographic density, and vehicle fleet prove to be relevant. In conclusion, the spatially explicit analysis highlights the complexity of the market, offering valuable implications for energy planners and stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 100-years-old model of centralized generation and one-way power flow is being disrupted by alternative energy technologies that enable customers to generate their own electricity. The massification of distributed generation (DG) started lately in Brazil, but it growth fast in capacity since then. The electric utilities have presented technical and economical challenges arising from the increased diffusion rate of DG. Due to lack of studies addressing performance metrics suitable for this scenario, this paper proposes a measurement system for determination of the overall performance index of electric utilities related to DG services. The methodology has been developed based on Delphi method and Balanced Scorecards to define 32 objectives. Analytic Hierarchy Process concepts was applied for weighing objectives perspectives and to derive an overall performance index. Overall performance indexes related to DG found from application of proposed model in all companies were lower then 50%. No one of the evaluated companies achieved a regular or satisfactory performance. This result confirmes that electric utilities companies are far from reaching expected satisfaction factors related to DG services. The introduced methodology can be used by the scientific community and policy-makers of any country to better inform to a new energy distribution and generation scenario. • A performance measurement system with multicriteria decision methods BSC-AHP. • A methodology that is easily replicable by researchers from other countries. • In Brazil, no electric utility is at an advanced organizational level index of DG. • Organizational management of the distributed generation in electric utilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distributed generation (DG) plays a strategic role in transitioning from a fossil to a renewable energy matrix, encouraging the reduction of energy poverty and access to green energy in traditional communities. This paper proposes a statistical model based on structural equations to analyze the influence of DG on Well-Being (CWB), and to estimate the causal relationships between the latent variables: economic (ECO), environmental (ENV), social (SOC), distributed generation system (DGS) and well-being (CWB) in a rural area in Brazil. The research is carried out in a Quilombola Community located in the south of Brazil. In the data collection process, a questionnaire was used in a Likert scale format, applied in loco to the residents of the Quilombola community. This database was imported into the SmartPLS software for analysis using a partial least squares approach. Structural equation-based modelling (SEM) results confirmed 66% of the hypotheses. The latent variables SOC and DGS directly and positively affected CWB with (β = 0.573) and (β = 0.433), respectively. The Economic variable with (β = 0.396) had a direct and positive effect on the DGS variable, and the DGS variable with (β = 0.404) had an immediate and positive impact on the CWB. The variables observed with the highest participation in the latent variables were: belonging (62%), social capital (31%), greenhouse gases (56%) and incentive policies (45%). The proposed model demonstrates that socioeconomic changes, carried out from specific public policies around the installation of DG, should contribute to the well-being of traditional communities and the reduction of energy poverty. • An analysis of the well-being development of a rural community was done. • For data collection process was used a Likert scale. • Only the social dimension had a direct effect on the well-being of the community. • The designed model demonstrated that the variables are susceptible to changes, influencing on public policies. • DG promotes well-being beyond technical issues and should encourage its installation in rural communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Proposed method to evaluate PV + BESS economic landscape for brazilian dwellings. • Positive impact of adopting a BESS in the PU from the energy perspective. • BESS costs impact economic viability and need government incentive. • Method can be adapted to other scenarios. This paper proposes a methodology to assess the energy and economic impact of adopting small-scale residential photovoltaic (PV) systems paired with lithium-ion battery energy storage (BESS) systems in single-family homes, under the current energy feed-in legislation. The suggested methodology was applied to a case study of a prosumer unit (PU) in Brazil. Data from energy bills, measured PV generation, BESS behaviour, and energy consumption were analysed to compare different viewpoints and estimate key economic indicators. As a result, the PV + BESS combination increases residential users' energy self-consumption and self-sufficiency, resulting in respective increases of 15 % and 2 %. Under the conventional tariff, adopting the PV + BESS system led to an average 29 % reduction in electricity costs compared to scenarios without PV + BESS. Furthermore, by transitioning to the white tariff mode in conjunction with PV + BESS, the PU achieved a 49 % reduction. This result emphasizes the advantages of time-of-use adoption for PV + BESS consumers. A greater discrepancy between tariff periods enhances the feasibility of storing off-peak energy for use during peak periods. Currently, BESS implementation costs impede competitiveness, with attractive LCOS metrics achieved only at costs below $600.00/kWh and MRAs below 9 %. BESS + PV lowers generation costs compared to off-peak rates, increasing the viability of shared usage. Integrating PV + BESS systems with rate switching significantly diminishes electricity expenses. The substantial BESS implementation cost necessitates a noteworthy rate differential for viability, which could potentially impact non-PV and non-BESS consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes a new methodological framework to support the decision of Brazilian distribution companies (DISCOs) when defining maximum demand contracts with the transmission system. The contract must be established one year ahead, and several uncertainties associated to loads, distributed generation (DG) and internal grid contingency events, should be considered. The optimal contracting decision should take into account the risk profile of DISCO's stakeholders and the interest of final consumers. To tackle these topics, an engineering-based approach is proposed in which a chain of four methods composes the final solution approach. To ensure realistic and tractable solutions, load and DG time series are decomposed into low and high frequencies to address the challenge of deriving long-term probabilistic forecasts for high-dimensional time series in high frequency. The proposed methodology considers exogenous long-term trend drivers (such as economic and climatic indices) in the probabilistic forecasts of loads and DG, as well as corrective actions to respond against contingencies in the power flow simulation. Results for a Brazilian DISCO show that the proposed probabilistic forecasts are adherent and tractable. Our case study corroborates the effectiveness of our approach to support DISCOs' decision and adjust their contracts based on pre-specified risk levels. • Four integrated methods to define long-term DSO-TSO demand contracts in Brazil. • A new method for simulating high-dimensional hourly load and DG time series in a long-term horizon. • A new array of quantile regressions to estimate and simulate conditional dynamic load curves. • A risk-averse optimization model to define the optimal demand contracting strategy of a distribution company. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The modeling of the regulated electricity market is essential since it allows the calculation of optimal rates by the regulatory agency, resulting in maximum socioeconomic welfare. Besides that, it is also possible to predict consumer behavior based on socioeconomic models. Therefore, under rate readjustments, energy shifting can be estimated and encouraged by the regulatory agency. This paper proposes major modifications to the optimized tariff model, originally developed for constant rates and grids without distributed energy resources, to model static time-of-use rates, distributed generation, and energy storage, enabling regulated electricity market optimization. • Development of a regulated socioeconomic model for analyzing TOU rates with DG and ESS. • Development of an optimization technique to obtain maximum socioeconomic welfare. • Energy shifting estimation and promotion based on tariff manipulation. • Analysis of public incentive policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The typical electrical distribution system shows a passive characteristic in relation to power flows (i.e. unidirectional power flows from substation to loads along the feeder). However, with the inclusion of solar photovoltaic (PV) generators along the feeder, this behavior is changed, and characteristics related to power quality, such as voltage level and total harmonic distortion (THD), may be affected. This paper presents the analysis of power quality in a feeder of the urban grid in the city of the Florianopolis, Brazil, with the integration of grid-connected PV systems as distributed generation. The analysis of power quality is based on real measurements of THD on an existing 12kWp PV pilot plant installed in the urban environment, and power flow simulations of a hypothetical PV system of 4.2MWp distributed in the same area, using the ANAREDE software. The power flow simulations allowed assessing the voltage level, the direction of power flow and loading of the distribution lines. The introduction of limited amounts of PV generation as distributed generation in the urban environment was found to be beneficial in several aspects: better voltage profile; power loss reduction and improvement in total harmonic distortion of the voltage (THDv). Furthermore, photovoltaics as a distributed generation source can also postpone feeder capacity upgrading investments. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]