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Programme MSc Management with Streams

Module name
Business Research Plan

QAA Level 7

Schedule Term Spring 2019

Student Reference Number (SRN) BP0187602

Search for alternatives to increase the generation of

Report/Assignment Title electricity and reduce the environmental impacts caused by
conventional sources in Brazil

Date of Submission
(Please attach the confirmation of
any extension received) 30/04/2019

Declaration of Original Work:

I hereby declare that I have read and understood BPP’s regulations on plagiarism and that this is
my original work, researched, undertaken, completed and submitted in accordance with the
requirements of BPP Business School.

The word count, excluding contents table, bibliography and appendices, is 3492 words.

Student Reference Number:BP0187602 Date: 30/04/2019

By submitting this coursework you agree to all rules and regulations of BPP regarding
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BPP Business School

 MSc Management with Streams

Business Research Plan

Search for alternatives to increase the generation of

electricity and reduce the environmental impacts caused
by conventional sources in Brazil

Student Number:BP0187602
Submission : 30/04/2019
Table of Contents
1. Introduction ........................................................................................................................ 4

2. Literature Review ............................................................................................................... 6

2.1 Solar Energy..................................................................................................................... 6

2.1. The Solar Radiation ..................................................................................................... 7

2.2. Use of Solar Energy .................................................................................................... 7

2.3. Electricity .................................................................................................................... 7

2.4. Photovoltaic Cells ....................................................................................................... 8

3. Objectives ........................................................................................................................... 9

4. Methodology..................................................................................................................... 10

4.1 Motivation ................................................................................................................. 10

2.5. Methodology ............................................................................................................. 11

2.6. Sampling.................................................................................................................... 11

2.7. Acessibility ................................................................................................................ 12

2.8. Ethical Issues ............................................................................................................. 12

2.9. Significance ............................................................................................................... 12

2.10. Deliverables ........................................................................................................... 13

2.11. Required Resources ............................................................................................... 13

2.12. Time Table ............................................................................................................. 13

5. Referencing List ............................................................................................................... 13

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1. Introduction
The global energy scenario, predominantly based on non-renewable sources, is undergoing a
transitional period. Also, This is due to the climatic changes that have been observed over the
years, influenced by human action, mainly by the burning of fossil fuels. Currently, the world
trend is in the search for new sources of energy that can meet the accelerated growth of demand,
in a non-polluting and sustainable way.
Non-renewable sources, commonly referred to as conventional, due to the extensive use, are
those that depend on geological time scale processes to become available, such as fossil fuels
(coal, oil and natural gas) and nuclear fuels such as uranium. These sources are in nature in
limited amounts and may be extinguished with use. Besides, its use is responsible for damages
to the environment and society, the most serious of which is the so-called greenhouse effect,
resulting from the current energy system based on the burning of fossil fuels.
The transition to a renewable energy system requires a massive mobilisation of technological
and economic resources, and this is beginning to happen. According to the U.S. Department of
Energy, in 2011, for the first time in history, global investment in the generation of electricity
from renewable sources exceeded the world's investment in conventional systems
In the case of electric power, in Brazil, the primary source for generation is hydraulics is
possible to seen in Figure 1, which presents the Brazilian electrical matrix. Despite being
considered a clean and renewable source, hydroelectric power plants produce considerable
environmental impacts due to the large flooded areas of the reservoirs. These floods displace
riverine populations and cause impacts on fauna and flora. Another impact of the reservoirs of
the hydroelectric plants is in the rainfall regime and the microclimate. Second, flooded areas
can modify precipitation regimes, winds, temperature and relative humidity levels, evaporation
and solar radiation.
The impacts caused by the great floods of the hydroelectric plants triggered in more significant
environmental pressures on them, as a result of which the new hydroelectric plants under
construction are water plants, that is, they do not have reservoirs. The problem is that without
the storage of water in the reservoirs, electricity generation is more dependent on the amount
of rainfall and so the hydraulic system loses reliability and generation capacity is limited. With
this, it is common to use the thermoelectric plants to complement the electricity generation,
since in Brazil this type of plant is used for this purpose.

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 Brazil Eletricity Production (%)
1%
1% 9% 3%
25% 1%

60%

Power Generation Plant Wind Power Generator

Small Hydropower Plant Photovoltaic Solar Generating Center
Hydroelectric Plant Thermoelectric Plant
Thermonuclear Plant

Figure 1- Brazil Eletricity Production Source: Adapted from Agencia Nacional de Energia
Eletrica (ANNEL,2019)
When generating energy with thermoelectric plants, in addition to the price of energy increase,
more fossil fuel is burned, and consequently, the GHG emission increased. However, this
shows the need to diversify the Brazilian electrical matrix with alternative and renewable
sources. Another already consolidated technology is nuclear power, which uses enriched
uranium as fuel in thermoelectric plants. Despite being cited as "clean" for not causing the
emission of greenhouse gases, it is a non-renewable source. Nuclear energy has great potential
for generation and is an alternative to cover energy deficits and diversify the national electricity
matrix. However, this energy is not well accepted by civil society, due to questions about the
associated risks and the problem of the storage of radioactive waste generated.
Among the renewable sources of electricity, wind energy is the one that has received the most
significant volume of investment in Brazil due to the Incentive Program for Alternative Sources
of Electricity (PROINFA), coordinated by the Ministry of Mines and Energy. The
technological capacity of the domestic industry and the decreasing cost of electricity from wind
sources indicate that this form of generation may occupy, in the medium term, an essential role
in the Brazilian matrix. Figure 2 shows the installed capacity growth of the wind power source
in Brazil.

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 New (MW) Accumulated (MW)

Figure 2 - Evolution of Installed Capacity of Fonte Eolica in Brazil.

On the other hand, Brazil has great potential for the use of solar energy throughout the year,
due to its more significant part being located in the intertropical region. Also, the sun is the
largest source of energy available on Earth, being much of the energy we use from solar energy
indirectly. Its use allows the reduction of the use of fossil fuels, reduction of GHG emissions,
generation of qualified jobs and technological development, vectors of environmental, social
and economic sustainability. With this, we conclude the importance of exploring this great
source of energy in Brazil and the world.
Although in Brazil the exploration of solar energy is still incipient, the global market for this
energy has been growing exponentially in recent years. Several applications of solar energy
have become economically viable by the expansion of the markets and by the consequent
expansion of the production scales. Currently, with the technological applications available,
there are two ways to generate electricity from solar radiation, photovoltaics and windfarms
(Gupta,2014).

2. Literature Review

2.1 Solar Energy

The Sun is a source of energy so intense that it can be considered an immense furnace of
spherical form. The solar nucleus can reach temperatures close to forty million degrees Celsius
and its surface can reach 6000ºC (Hinrich, 2010). This star is 110 times the size of the Earth
and is at a distance of 150 million kilometers. The annual energy supply from solar radiation
to the terrestrial surface is 1.5x1018 KWh . The total energy produced inside the Sun, only a
small fraction reaches Earth. It is this small fraction, which on the surface of the Sun is

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transformed from nuclear energy to light energy, which makes terrestrial life possible. One can
imagine that this luminous energy is made up of packets of small particles that contain energy
and are called photons.

2.1. The Solar Radiation

Solar radiation reaching the top of the atmosphere is called sunshine and has about 9%
ultraviolet radiation, about 40% of radiation in the visible region and around 50% of infrared
radiation (Hinrich, 2010). Part of the ultraviolet radiation is absorbed by the gases of nitrogen,
oxygen and ozone that are present in the atmosphere. In the lower atmosphere, part of the
infrared radiation is absorbed by water vapor and CO2. Of the total radiation that can pass
through the atmosphere, 19% is absorbed by clouds and other gases and 31% is reflected into
space. The remaining 50% reach the surface and are almost entirely absorbed (Hinrich, 2010).
These phenomena of reflection of solar radiation are called albedo. Part of the reflected
radiation is absorbed by CO2 and H2O and irradiated back to Earth generating the so-called
greenhouse effect. This effect is significant because it maintains the relatively high temperature
of the Earth, without which it would not be possible to exist life, and its aggravation is the
result of the burning of fossil fuels that release retentive gases. The radiation that reaches the
top of the atmosphere, called insolation, has an intensity of 1360 W / m2 and this number is
called the solar constant, which varies minimally with time (Hinrich, 2010).

2.2. Use of Solar Energy

Solar energy can provide three types of processes: thermal, electrical and chemical . The first
process has processed at different temperatures. Some examples are heating of rooms and water
(using flat collectors), evaporation, distillation, solar furnaces and parabolic solar furnaces. The
second one consists of processes that have a direct transformation in electric energy, as in the
case of photovoltaic processes and thermoelectric generators. Finally, chemical processes
consist of using solar energy to perform chemical processes. Examples of this type are
photolysis (breaking by the action of sunlight) and photosynthesis

2.3. Electricity
Electrical energy is based on the production of electric potential differences between two
points. With this, the electrons move between these points creating an electric current. It can
be used in various household and industrial equipment. Electricity is generated through water,
sun and wind and is considered a form of clean energy, as it has low pollutant production rates.

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The process of generating electric energy consists of the conversion of another form of energy
into electric energy, mainly from kinetic energy. The distribution, from the plants, occurs
through the electrons found in the conductors of the transmission lines. In Brazil, electricity is
generated mainly by hydroelectric plants. Table 3 shows that hydroelectric plants account for
more than 60% of the electricity generated in Brazil.
Operating Undertakings

Rated Controlled
Type Amount %
Power (kW) Power (kW)

Power Generation Plant 699 712,040 711,854 0.43

Wind Power Generator 611 15,024,289 14,988,893 9.14
Small Hydropower Plant 425 5,221,329 5,179,256 3.16
Photovoltaic Solar
2.47 2,105,252 2.080.002 1.27
Generating Center

Hydroelectric Plant 217 102,529,978 98,698,211 60.16

Thermoelectric Plant 3.006 41,959,689 40,401,760 24.63

Thermonuclear Plant 2 1,990,000 1,990,000 1.21
Total 7.431 169,542,627 164,050,026 100
Table 3: Installed capacity, by the source of generation Source: Adapted from Agência
Nacional de Energia Eletrica (ANNEL, 2019)

2.4. Photovoltaic Cells

The electric energy is obtained from the direct conversion of light through the photovoltaic
effect. This effect, reported by Edmond Becquerel in 1839, is the emergence of a potential
difference at the ends of a semiconductor material structure produced by the absorption of light
(CRESESB, 2006). The first photovoltaic apparatus was assembled in 1876, and only in 1956,
industrial production was started (CRESESB, 2006). The fundamental unit of the conversion
process is the photovoltaic cell. The assembly of cells comprises the photovoltaic panels and
can be seen in figure 4.

Figure 4 PV and CSP plant Source: Adapted from EPIA (European Photovoltaic Industry
Association)

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The photovoltaic effect occurs in materials called semiconductors, which are characterised by
the presence of energy bands where electrons are allowed, called valence bands, and other
bands that are empty, called conduction bands. These photovoltaic cells work on the principle
that the incident photons, colliding with the atoms of the semiconductor materials, cause the
electrons to be displaced. If these electrons can be captured before returning to their atomic
orbitals, they can be used, free, as an electric current.
Of the various semiconductor materials found on Earth, the most widely used is silicon,
because its atoms have four electrons in the valence layer, which bond to the electrons of the
neighbouring atom, forming a crystalline lattice. To this crystalline network, elements with five
binding electrons and elements with three binding electrons are added. The former have an
electron that is weakly connected to their original atom, facilitating, when using little thermal
energy, that it detaches itself from the atom. However, the elements with three electrons in the
valence layer require an electron to satisfy the bonds with the silicon atoms and, with little
thermal energy, an electron will occupy that position. This movement of electrons generates a
potential difference, where the accumulation of electrons on one side becomes negative and on
the other side positive due to the lack of electrons, and also generates an electric field that keeps
the electrons away (CRESESB, 2006).
A semiconductor material is a material that conducts the electric current, and whose resistivity
decreases with increasing temperature, and by the presence of impurities, unlike standard
metallic conductors.The photovoltaic cell is the smallest unit of conversion of radiant energy,
coming from the Sun, in electrical energy and has some types according to the characterisation
as for the semiconductor material. Virtually all photovoltaic cells are manufactured using
silicon (CRESESB, 2006).

3. Objectives

The problem faced by the Brazilian electrical matrix is the imbalance due to the significant
dependence on hydropower, which represents 70.6% of the matrix (Khan,2019). Despite being
a renewable source and the cheapest form of electricity generation in the country, hydropower
presents a random component: the occurrence of rainfall in the basins that supply the reservoirs.
Also, the expansion of the hydraulic park almost exclusively supported by waterworks is
making rainfall dependence more critical, with the expectation of a significant loss of the
capacity to regularise the electricity system. Thus, the dispatch of thermoelectric plants tends
to increase in the country to supply the growth of demand, with the consequent increase in the
emission of greenhouse gases and increase in the cost of generation.

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Therefore, greater diversification in the use of renewable sources is necessary to meet the
demand increase. In order to contribute to the solution of this problem, this work will make a
study on solar thermal energy in Brazil. The main objective is to present a methodology for the
study of the implantation of a central receiver heliothermic plant in the country. Moreover, an
analysis will be made to understand the profile of the Brazilian consumer concerning renewable
energy consumption.

4. Methodology

4.1 Motivation

In the search for alternatives to increase the generation of electricity and reduce the
environmental impacts caused by conventional sources, the use of solar energy in the
heliothermic generation is growing all over the world. This growth can be seen in Figure 5,
which shows the increase in CSP (concentrated solar power) capacity in the world until 2012
when there were 2,550 MW installed. In 2013, it was announced by SOLARPACES that the
installed capacity of CSP plants in the world was already 9,450MW, with 40% of plants in
operation, 16% in construction and 44% in development.
Despite the exponential increase of heliothermic plants in the last years, the participation of
this technology in the world's electrical matrix is still discreet. The discrete participation of the
CSP technology in the world matrix is mainly due to its high cost compared to other
conventional technologies. On the other hand, its growth is justified by the advantages of
windfarms plants, such as using the free energy source of the sun, allowing energy storage in
the form of heat, allowing operation with a backup system, increasing energy security and
reducing emissions of GHG. This technology is being implemented in many countries for
large-scale electric power generation, as can be seen in Figure 6, the main ones being the US
and Spain. These two countries hold more than 90% of the CSP generation installed capacity
in the world.
In Brazil, the first initiative towards the insertion of CSP technology in the national territory
was the agreement between the Ministry of Mines and Energy and CEPEL to support the
development of a heliothermic generation pilot plant in the northeast of the country known as
the Helioterm project. This 1 MW plant and parabolic cylinder technology are being deployed
in Petrolina, PE, in the first phase of the project. It will serve as a research and development
platform for solar energy in the Brazilian semi-arid region. The next steps of the project will
be to add an energy storage system and develop other technologies such as the solar tower and
the linear Fresnel.

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Because of the world panorama of solar thermal generation and the first step in the penetration
of this technology in Brazil, this monograph seeks to present a methodology for studying the
implementation of a CSP plant in the country. Thus, an assessment of the potential of
heliothermic generation in Brazil will be made, contributing to studies already carried out and
encouraging future studies, until the large-scale solar thermal generation is in operation in the
country.

2.5. Methodology

This study aims to understand the market of energy consumers in Brazil, in order to implement
solar farms. However, the literature review was able to show the ability to generate solar
energy. The approach to this research will be characterised by questions in which consumers
usually pay in electric power and whether they would be willing to pay a little more for the
clean energy consumer. However, this will make the research quantitative and qualitative, so
we will know if it will be feasible to implement a heliothermic plant in Brazil.
The style of this quantitative research will be characterised by questions that try to understand
the profile of the consumer since their answers will fit the consumers according to their monthly
consumption. This method of questions allows greater objectivity in the answers, being that
the interviewee is limited to choose between the proposed alternatives in which it fits the most.
The research will be responsible for understanding consumer beliefs, in which this is
characterised by qualitative research because it will have cognitive access to volunteers. The
MonkeySurvey website will contribute to the production of questionnaires.

2.6. Sampling

Non-probabilistic sampling will be used to obtain the maximum perception of a sample size of
200 people. A sample of only one region of Brazil would not have a good representation of the
population, and that is why they will be expanded to the five regions of Brazil, being: North,
Northeast, South, Southeast and Midwest. Also, the adult population of Brazil is massive and
with a significant economic, racial and political difference. However, Ira will be used to
increase the diversity of volunteers - age, gender, degree of involvement with clean energy and
schooling.
A sampling includes the following selection criteria:
1- Age (30-90 years)
2- Gender (Female and Male)
3 - Level of education (Graduate, Master and PhD)

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4- Involvement with products that are related to renewable energy
The researcher would be unable to guarantee the choice of volunteers, so the probability
sampling technique was not chosen.

2.7. Acessibility
The renewable energy market is growing in Brazil, so many people are interested in this type
of energy consumption. However, the last events with the disruption of two hydroelectric plants
in two years, in which they made many victims and destroyed the rivers in Minas Gerais, is the
main responsible for this change in the thought of consuming clean energy. Thus, obtaining
access to people who are willing to answer the questionnaire will not be a challenging task,
since the demographic data of Brazil in the age range from 30 to 90 years corresponds to 54%
of the population about 112 million people. (IBGE, 2016). However, adequate sampling
defining the level of schooling makes these numbers smaller for the research. However, it may
be difficult to guarantee the data when comparing with the market research of the organisations
in Europe, since the capacity of consumption and supply is smaller than in Brazil.

2.8. Ethical Issues

The information that will be provided to the researcher will be protected respecting the code of
ethics since it will not include any information of the participants restricting only in the area of
interest of the research. According to Scriven & Smith-Ferrier (2003): "briefly mention the
privacy, confidentiality and anonymity of respondents, perceived spam invitations or contain
viruses, and the level of data security as having a possible impact on data quality and response
rates, and measures must be taken to protect data such as cryptography. " The data used in the
study will be attributed to the respective authors so that plagiarism will be avoided. However,
as the research specialises in seeing the feasibility of deploying a CSP (Concentrated Solar
Power) plant, it will produce definite conclusions for use in the investment market.

2.9. Significance

Firstly, the study will be useful to inform the investment market about the potential that Brazil
has in the area of energy production with solar farms. This work will be interesting for other
scholars in this market, as well as for entrepreneurs who think of investing in this area. Also,
the information collected by the study will contribute to the growth of investments in this
energy sector of Brazil. Although the study has a national approach, this does not preclude that
with this approach it has created new factors for more comprehensive studies.

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 2.10. Deliverables
The finished research had been able to provide information to potentiate the solar energy
market since quantitative research had demonstrated the potential of the consumer market in
Brazil. With the study completed after the conclusion, the researcher will develop a research
report for other large companies that invest in this area (SolarCity, Masdar, Siemens, Vestas),
can use to implement projects in Brazil. Thus, investments in this area will contribute to the
greater diversification of energy supply in the country. However, the study will be made
available for access so that scholars can use the research as a reference.

2.11. Required Resources

SurveyMonkey.com will send the survey in order to be filled by about 300 people between 30
and 90 years of schooling minimum who are graduates and who consume electric energy. The
structure of the questionnaires will be structured as objectively as possible to make it easier for
volunteers to participate. This study will compare other institutions that make investments in
the area of solar farms in Europe, and that has the active market of consumers in which they
prioritise the use of clean energy.

2.12. Time Table

Weeks
No Activity
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
1 Updating of the literature review
2 Refinement of Aims and Objectives
3 Development of Data Collection tools
Determination of sample size and selection of
4
participants
5 Administering questionnaires
6 Data analysis and interpretation
7 Proposal report writing

5. Referencing List

SCRIVEN, A. & SMITH-FERRIER, S. (2003). The application of online surveys for

workplace health research. Journal of the Royal Society of Health, 123(2), 95–101.

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ANNEL,2019. Programa de Incentivo as Fontes Alternativas [Online] Available at:
http://www.aneel.gov.br/proinfa. [Acessed 17 April 2019]

Hinrich Rüping (2010) ‘BGH, 20. 5. 2010 — 1 StR 577/09. Zur strafbefreienden Selbstanzeige
im Steuerstrafrecht’, JuristenZeitung, 65(21), p. 1072. doi: 10.1628/002268810793333203.

Cresesb. 2019. Efficient Solar House. [ONLINE] Available at:

http://www.cresesb.cepel.br/index.php?section=com_content&cid=solar_house&lang=en.
[Accessed 23 April 2019].

Khan, M. R. et al. (2019) ‘Ground sculpting to enhance energy yield of vertical bifacial solar
farms’, Applied Energy, 241, pp. 592–598. doi: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2019.01.168

Gupta, H. (2014) ‘How to Save the Tortoises: Incorporating Wildlife Concerns in Siting of the
Utility-Scale Solar Farms’, George Washington Journal of Energy and Environmental Law,
(Issue 2), p. 89. Available at:
http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edshol&AN=edshol.hein.journals.g
wjeel5.14&site=eds-live (Accessed: 30 April 2019).

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