Latin America Report: Environmental Concerns Surface

Renewable Energy World Editors
December 21, 2011 | 9 Comments

Many regions in Latin America are struggling to build thriving economies on top of an old energy infrastructure. That's why we're seeing such rapid advancement of wind projects, and why we'll likely see the same for solar a bit further down the road. Meanwhile, hydropower continues to expand its lead in the clean energy race.

Nowhere is this more evident than in Brazil, an economic power with serious issues related to its energy needs. There, the government is pushing renewables, mostly to great fanfare. But there’s an environmental issue brewing in many rural places across Latin America where giant projects are running up against local opposition.

One such case is the massive Belo Monte dam, which activists say would destroy forests, uproot villages and kill off certain species of fish. It’s become such a divisive issue that more than a million people have signed a petition calling for an immediate halt to what would become the world’s third largest dam.

MORE ON BRAZIL

Power Auction: In Brazil's latest power auction earlier this week — a process in which developers bid for contracts with the country's national electricity agency — more than 80 percent of contracts were for wind projects.

Brazilian Power Struggle: National Geographic takes a look at the vast energy challenges facing Brazil and the steps the nation is taking to meet and stabilize its growing demand.

Competition Keeps Costs Low: Brazilian power-distribution companies contracted 1,211.5 megawatts of new energy capacity to be brought online in 2016, mostly made up of wind-power projects, with some hydroelectric and biomass. The average price for all three types of energy was 102.18 Brazilian reais ($55.50) per megawatt-hour, the second-lowest price at a new energy auction since the current system began in 2004.

Wind Investment: Brazil's National Development Bank says it will put up close to $1 million to help finance the construction of 26 wind energy parks in the northeastern state of Rio Grande do Norte. The new funds bring to 3.3 billion reals ($1.6 million) the bank's financing of wind energy projects this year.

IN THE NEWS

Chile Wind Plan: Mainstream Renewable Power has received approval for a 240 MW wind farm near the Chilean city of Calama. In Chile, Mainstream has a package of 12 projects, including 643 MW of wind power and 325 MW of solar power.

A Race With the Sun: Powered by solar, innovative race teams descend the Atacama Desert in Chile for a grueling three-day, 620-mile journey.

Giant Hydro Planned in Mexico: Russian companies are ready to take part in a tender to build the La Parota hydropower plant in Mexico. The future plant's projected capacity is over 800 megawatts.

Solar Park in Peru: In another step toward urban visibility of renewable energy, Lima, Peru inaugurated its first eco park, which will feature solar illumination across its 1,000 square acres.

A LOOK AHEAD

Moving In: Opel Solar joins a growing list of companies that are taking a more focused look at the Latin American market.

Hydro Outlook: A yearly U.S. Energy Information Administration takes a broad look at hydropower throughout Central and South America. Here’s a recap.

Energy on the Biggest Stage: From solar panels at soccer venues to sweeping energy efficiency initiatives, Brazil is aiming to make the 2014 World Cup the greenest ever.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

Solar in 2012

“There will probably be some countries showing the first signs of reaching grid parity – it will make the situation in the market, probably by mid-next year much more attractive for markets that have not been demanding any solar installations so far. I’m specifically thinking of South America and countries like Mexico, Brazil or Chile.”
— Arturo Herrero of Jinko Solar

HAVE YOUR SAY

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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

Dec. 7-14, 2011 Latin America Report: International Firms Chart Course Into Region
Nov. 30-Dec 7, 2011 Latin America Report: U.S. Bill Would Extend Tariff of Brazilian Ethanol
Nov. 23-30, 2011 Latin America Report: Ready for Explosive Growth

9 Comments

terry hallinan
December 24, 2011

Niagara Falls power production is not small. :-)

I take some exception to the complaint about "large concrete pours" and "debt that enslaves."

Debt can indeed enslave but that depends on many factors. Hospitals in Greece have turned away pregnant women in labor because of the debt load. But it is the idiocy of the economics that is doing the harm. As austerity bites, the deficit and debt grows ever larger and there are cries for ever more austerity and cruelty.

Cash on the barrelhead economies don't even work among the indigenous tribes of the Amazon I reckon. We all depend on credit but it needs a human face rather than predation.

I understand quite well your complaint about pending further environmental destruction in Brazil - already far advanced - and thank for your thoughts.

Best, Terry

Mary Saunders
December 24, 2011

My comment concerns the proposed dams in Brazil. The Belize experience is relevant.

I am not opposed to small hydro projects, if they interfere with fish none or little and if river pollution is avoided, and if downstream risk of flooding is not made more likely. I have seen plans for these that are very careful about fish and pollution.

I have never been to Niagara Falls, and I know little about the environmental effect there.

In general, I oppose large concrete pours, financed by debt that enslaves.

Humans should be beyond this.

When this is done by pretending the geology, environment, and expected output are different from what the people pretending may know to be true, with hints of truth tucked in appendices, for deniability if the dam breaks or some other untoward outcome occurs--this is what comes across as atrocious.

Governments may agree with these promises, but if the dams fail, ordinary people will be harmed and then taxed to clean up the messes.

Humans can do things with far greater efficiency than we presently do, and produce what we need close to where the needs will be filled.

Amory Lovins has a copiously backed-up book about reinventing fire, which makes the case for my favorite phrase for the coming year, islandable micro-grids, far better than I can make it here in a brief comment.

Desecrating the Amazon forest to pour a lot of concrete, at great debt, is a pattern I had thought Brazilians were done with. I am sorry to hear destruction on this scale is planned. The Brazilians involved with this will likely live to regret destruction of cultural and environmental resources.

I hope those who oppose it prevail. A sad rain of bad promises can carry such long-term negative consequences.

As John Perkins has explained, some of the people involved with this will not understand the depth of the harm. The people at the top of the chain with the most to gain, they do.

terry hallinan
December 24, 2011

Thanks, Mary.

To put the awful destruction in Belize from a dam, as described in your link, in the same bag with power generated by Niagara Falls is atrocious.

One single negative comment on the link I have is that it is current foolishness to describe utilization of natural gas as benign. Natural gas is a fossil fuel that can sometimes be even more harmful to the environment than coal and petroleum. Some uncombusted methane inevitably leaks into the atmosphere and is a far more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide.

Power imported from Mexico that is said to come from natural gas power plants is presented as a suitable substitute for hydropower.

Best, Terry

Mary Saunders
December 24, 2011

This is the kind of project described by John Perkins in Confessions of an Economic Hit Man. Projections of cost are under-estimated, promises of employing locals don't pan out, and the costs of operation of the boondoggle are far, far more than were estimated.

Environmental damage goes on. See

https://probeinternational.org/fortis-belize/fortis-belize-comprehensive-summary-and-analysis

terry hallinan
December 22, 2011

We get much of our power, as do many others, from Niagara
Falls.

Last I looked, the falls still looks mighty fine and quite large.

All power sources, most especially including solar and wind, do environmental damage. Solar projects in the Mojave Desert threaten to make at least one desert tortoise extinct and that for sometime, very expensive energy.

I have no brief for large dams particularly but to claim hydropower is not renewable is ludicrous.

Thank you for your concern for the terrible hurt being done to the planet and inhabitants in the Amazon but hydropower is probably far from the worst offender.

The story of the erstwhile "rubber soldiers" and their descendants is a particular horror that should chill anyone with a conscience.

Best, Terry

Adam Dolezal
December 22, 2011

With regard to the comments and the article above. Large-scale hydropower, and even many small-medium scale technologies, do not represent sustainable or 'clean' energy (as was stated in the article and as is an enormous false assumption in much of what RE world.com has published). And while it is important that this brief article is bringing attention to the adverse social and environmental impacts of the Belo Monte project in Brazil, statements like these are inexcusable "Meanwhile, hydropower continues to expand its lead in the clean energy race." The world's most biodiverse ecosystems in the Amazon are being destroyed by dams and thousands of individuals from indigenous communities, whose cultural ways of being are tied to the river system, are being displaced... When deployed in these ways 'renewable energy' is not better than coal...

Scott Dailey
December 22, 2011

But you can't add more capacity whenever you want. Because there's a finite number of valleys / canyons to flood.

terry hallinan
December 22, 2011

It ain't gonna rain no more?

How in the heck can I wash my neck,
If it ain't going to rain no more?

Of course hydro - large-scale, run of river or whatever - is renewable though obviously dams can be damaging.

Best, Terry

Scott Dailey
December 22, 2011

Can't believe Renewable Energy World would consider large-scale Hydro as "renewable." Sure it's mostly non-emitting, but certainly not renewable in any scaleable or sustainable way.

Story should be about how Solar out-scales Hydro without killing any fish.

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