Energy Sources: A Comprehensive View
Energy Sources
Non-Renewable Sources
Petroleum
Origin: Sedimentary rocks, organic debris deposited on the seafloor.
Features: Most environmentally harmful; most valuable raw material with various derivatives.
Producers: Nigeria, Venezuela, Ecuador, Mexico, Kuwait, Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Russia, UAE.
Brazil: Self-sufficient in crude oil (Pre-salt: ES to SC, Maritime: Campos Basin, Santos Basin, Continental: RN, BA, SE, PE, AL, MA).
Natural Gas
Origin: Similar to oil.
Features: Affordable, less polluting than oil, used in steel production, metallurgy, and thermoelectric power.
Producers: Russia, Iceland, South Africa, China, India, Mexico.
Brazil: Major producers: SE, AL, RJ, ES, BA.
Coal
Origin: Ancient buried forests, millions of years old.
Features: Second most polluting energy source, used in steel production, metallurgy, and thermoelectric power.
Producers: China, Russia, England, France, USA, Germany, Japan.
Brazil: Southern region accounts for 95% of national coal production, primarily for export.
Nuclear Energy
Origin: Splitting heavy mineral particles.
Features: Environmentally harmful, requires high operational safety.
Producers: France, USA, Germany, Japan, South Africa, Russia.
Brazil: Goal to build 50 power plants in the next 50 years (RJ – Angra I, II, III; MS and PR).
Renewable Sources
Biodiesel
Origin: Castor beans, soybeans, corn, peanuts, animal fats.
Types: B4, B25, B50.
States: AM, PA, AC, RR, RO, MA, BA.
Countries: England, USA, Japan.
Ethanol
Origin: Sugarcane (Brazil), corn (USA).
Features: Less polluting than oil derivatives, used extensively in the automotive sector, but can lead to soil infertility with long-term monoculture planting.
Producers: Brazil, China, India, South Africa, Mexico (sugarcane), USA and Canada (corn).
Brazil: South (PR), Southeast (SP, MG), Midwest (MT, MS), Northeast (AL, PE, SE), North (AM, TO).
Brazilian Exports: Americas – Argentina, Uruguay, Canada, Paraguay; Europe – Germany, England, Norway, Switzerland; Africa – Congo, Nigeria; Asia – China, India, South Korea; Oceania – New Zealand.
Proálcool: Incentive for flex-fuel vehicle production and advantageous for sugarcane growers.
Hydropower
Origin: Damming rivers.
Features: Low operational cost, environmentally friendly (though with some negative impacts), supplies large cities.
Producers: Brazil, India, Paraguay, Germany, Canada.
Brazil: Três Marias (MG), Itaipu (PR), Xingó (AL, SE), Paulo Afonso (BA), Tucuruí (PA).
Biomass
Origin: Decomposing organic matter.
Features: Low operational cost, less polluting, can supply large cities.
Producers: Norway, Switzerland, Brazil, China, Canada.
Brazil: North (organic waste), Northeast (sugarcane).
Wind Energy
Origin: Wind.
Features: Clean, safe, but doesn’t provide large quantities of energy.
Countries: USA, Canada, Germany, Australia, New Zealand, China, Brazil.
Brazil: RN, CE, PR, SC, RS, ES.
Solar Energy
Features: Similar to wind energy.
Countries: USA, Canada, Norway, Japan, Australia, New Zealand.
Brazil: Sertão region (BA, CE, PE, PI).
Tidal Power
Features: Similar to wind energy.
Countries: Norway, Canada (research), Mexico, Portugal.
Brazil: Research in RN and Pernambuco.
Other Notes:
• Brazil does not develop geothermal energy.
• Brazil: Future energy power.
• Major researcher of renewable sources.