Location and concentration of the forest bioelectricity supply in Brazil: A space-time analysis

This article analyzed the location and concentration of forest bioelectricity in Brazil, from 2000 to 2019, available from the National Electric Energy Agency (ANEEL) and used the following indicators: Location Quotient (QL), Concentration Index [CR (k)], Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI), Hoover Index (H) and Coefficient of Gini (G). The main results showed that the supply of electricity from Brazilian forest biomass increased from 562.90 MW and 11 thermoelectric plants in 2000 to 3532.61 MW and 115 thermoelectric plants in 2019, providing an average growth of 10.15% yy of the granted installed power and 13.20% p.a. of thermoelectric power plants. The QL inferred a high concentration of energy supply from black liquor (Rio Grande do Sul, Paraa, Espirito Santo, Bahia, Maranhao and Mato Grosso do Sul) and forest residues in several states, mainly in the North region. At the state level, the CR (4), CR (8) and HHI indexes indicated a deconcentration trend. The identification of the location and concentration pattern that the greatest offer was associated with industrial pulp and paper complexes. These results can indicate to investors the impact of electric power generation in the sector and the most relevant location for the installation of new thermoelectric plants.

Automated summary

This article analyzed the location and concentration of forest bioelectricity in Brazil using various indicators. The results showed a significant growth in the scale and number of forest biomass power supply in Brazil, with a concentration in specific states and industrial pulp and paper complexes.