Energy in Brazil and the role of Litro de Luz

Litro's writing

What is energy?

Have you ever wondered what energy is? We use it in various applications: turning on lights, charging our cell phones, taking a hot shower, cooking, among many others. However, we rarely stop to think about what energy really is. In a simple and objective definition, energy is the capacity of a body to perform work, and this capacity manifests in different forms, such as kinetic, mechanical, potential, and, most importantly, electrical energy.

It's strange to think that, despite electrical energy being easily accessible for the majority, it still hasn't become universal. A report published by the World Bank in 2019 highlighted that around 840 million people worldwide have their quality of life deteriorated by the lack of access to electricity in their homes and communities, while in Brazil, this number is approximately 2 million people, according to the Ministry of Mines and Energy, 2019.

Since 2014, Litro de Luz has been focused on this issue as a social organization that operates internationally with the mission of bringing solar lighting to communities without access to energy. In Brazil, we are present in all five regions and have directly impacted over 20,000 people!

Action in the Quilombola Community of Santa Justina and Santa Isabel - RJ.

Photographer: Marcela Cure

Energy Matrix and Electric Matrix:

In our daily use, energy resources are divided into two main groups: the Energy Matrix and the Electric Matrix.

The energy matrix is the set of all fuel sources available to meet our demand for energy for activities such as driving cars and other forms of transportation, cooking, and generating electricity. On the other hand, the electric matrix refers to the sources available only for generating electricity; thus, the electric matrix is part of the energy matrix.

According to the synthesis report of the National Energy Balance (BEN), conducted by the Energy Research Company (EPE), the national energy matrix has a strong participation from renewable energy sources (46.1% - 2019), while globally, this value is in the range of 13% to 15%, based on 2017 data. This is concerning as it indicates that sources like coal, gasoline, and other fossil fuels are intensively used worldwide, which certainly exacerbates the effects of pollution and global warming.

In terms of the electric matrix, renewable energy sources represent 83% of the Brazilian electric matrix, while globally, this percentage is between 24% to 27%, based on 2016 data.

Curiosity about PHOTOVOLTAIC SOLAR ENERGY:

Photovoltaic solar energy is increasingly present in our lives, thanks to some brilliant minds who have worked tirelessly over the last two centuries to make solar panels a viable solution worldwide. Here’s a brief summary of the development trajectory of this technology:

• 1839: Discovery of the photovoltaic effect by physicist Alexandre Edmond Bequerel;

• 1883: First photovoltaic cell created by Charles Fritts, with a maximum efficiency of 1%;

• 1905: Discovery of the photoelectric effect by Einstein, based on Heinrich Hertz's theories from 1887;

• 1922: Nobel Prize awarded to Einstein for the photoelectric effect;

• 1930: Schottky establishes the theory of the photovoltaic effect;

• 1954: Calvin Fuller, Gerald Pearson, and Daryl Chapin create the first practical mono-crystalline silicon photovoltaic cell;

• 1958: 1W photovoltaic cells used in the Vanguard I satellite to power its radio during the trip;

• 1994: First solar cell that surpassed 30% conversion efficiency;

• 1999: Total photovoltaic capacity installed worldwide reaches 1,000 megawatts;

• 2000: Use of photovoltaic systems connected to the grid;

• 2006: New record achieved with a solar cell reaching 40% efficiency;

• 2012: Regulation of ANEEL’s RN 482;

• 2015: ANEEL Resolution 687/2015.

  
  

Based on the data presented, one thing is clear: the world is undergoing a transition in how it uses and generates energy, as renewable systems continue to improve their efficiency.

The role of Litro de Luz Brazil is to bring to communities, through our actions, the knowledge and empowerment of how to participate in this new global movement for sustainability!