Springer Sustainability Performance Evaluation of Renewable Energy Sources: The Case of Brazil

This book presents a unique analysis of the sustainability performance of various renewable energy sources, based on Brazilian case studies. The evaluation also covers the potential held by regions with diverse socioeconomic and environmental characteristics and how they affect the development of each source. Considering that energy is essential to sustaining and improving modern society, the answer to the current energy dilemma lies in the development of a system that comprises multiple renewable, reliable, and sustainable energy sources. Brazil, which has a predominantly renewable electricity grid, has the privilege of being home to a range of different sustainable sources, although most of its electricity comes from hydroelectric power plants. With that in mind, this book has the primary objective of developing a performance evaluation system for important renewable sources in Brazil (solar, wind, and hydro), taking into account different scenarios and investor profiles. The analysis is based on the study of sustainability indicators related to the technical, economic, social and environmental aspects of the evaluated energy systems. As the availability of renewable sources is very location-specific, the scope of this book covers two Brazilian States with distinct characteristics. It makes it possible to determine which renewable energy source is most adequate from a sustainability perspective, and in light of the analyzed scope and investor profile.   From the Back Cover This book presents a unique analysis of the sustainability performance of various renewable energy sources, based on Brazilian case studies. The evaluation also covers the potential held by regions with diverse socioeconomic and environmental characteristics and how they affect the development of each source. Considering that energy is essential to sustaining and improving modern society, the answer to the current energy dilemma lies in the development of a system that comprises multiple renewable, reliable, and sustainable energy sources. Brazil, which has a predominantly renewable electricity grid, has the privilege of being home to a range of different sustainable sources, although most of its electricity comes from hydroelectric power plants. With that in mind, this book has the primary objective of developing a performance evaluation system for important renewable sources in Brazil (solar, wind, and hydro), taking into account different scenarios and investor profiles. The analysis is based on the study of sustainability indicators related to the technical, economic, social and environmental aspects of the evaluated energy systems. As the availability of renewable sources is very location-specific, the scope of this book covers two Brazilian States with distinct characteristics. It makes it possible to determine which renewable energy source is most adequate from a sustainability perspective, and in light of the analyzed scope and investor profile.   About the Author João F. G. Oliveira: Prof. João Oliveira graduated (1982) and earned his PhD (1988) in Mechanical Engineering - University of São Paulo, he was visiting scholar (1993 - 1994) and visiting professor (2016) at Mechanical Engineering - University of California at Berkeley. He is Professor of Mechanical Engineering at University of São Paulo with expertise in Innovation Management, Advanced Manufacturing and Industrial Sustainability. From 2008 through 2012 he served as President and CEO of the State of São Paulo Institute for Technological Research – IPT, a state owned research company with more than 1,200 collaborators. In IPT he implemented a large research investment program in order to support the research and development in cooperation with Brazilian companies on new energy projects, such as solar, wind, hydroelectric, deep water oil exploration, and others. He has published over 200 papers in journals, conferences, magazines and newsp