Background Information
With the growing energy pressures do to the controversial topical of global warming and climate change, a search for more efficient sources is a popular issue. Two promising energy alternatives to fossil fuels include solar and wind energy due to their limited environmental effects. This study examines optimal areas within Brazil for profitable development of wind and solar energy.
Data Sets
- Annual Energy Consumption: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)
- Brazil Wind Data: Centro do Pesquisas de Energia Electrica (CEPEL)
To identify areas for profitable development of solar and wind energy production, data required unit manipulation using Field Calculator. Solar energy data was converted to power density (w/m^2) through dividing annual values by daily hours of sunlight (12). Because the solar plates used to acquire energy do not operate at 100%, data was adjusted by a scale factor of 0.75. Within attribute tables for wind
and solar energy, power densities greater than 300 were selected and exported into a separate raster layer. By removing pixels outside the required bounds, the raster file was reconverted into a shape file to outline areas in black containing ideal power densities for solar and wind energy development. Brazil wind and solar data displayed compares energy rates, to convert from power density; values were multiplied by 40km X 40km pixel areas.
In order to compare potential energy production, locations with ideal power densities were evaluated. Using raster layers containing pixel counts of locations meeting the 300 W/m^2 threshold, areas were calculated by multiplying by individual pixel area for wind and solar energy densities.
Conclusions
Data reveals that there is approximately ten times more available solar energy for development. Data used to
compare annual energy consumption in Brazil to potential energy production of solar and wind energy was converted from British Thermal Units to Watts per year. Solar energy availability in Brazil is fairly uniform due to its proximity to the equation and the Tropic of Capricorn, allowing more direct sunlight. Latitude also plays a role in Brazil wind energy availability. The northern portion of Brazil is located near the doldrums where there wind dynamics are minimal extending southwards, increasing with latitude; maximum energy rates are located in Southern Brazil. Higher wind energy rates are also concentrated along coastal areas where there the land-sea temperature difference creates a pressure gradient driving the winds. Combined, potential solar and wind energy production does not even make 5% of Brazil's annual energy consumption. This analysis is a gross oversimplification of solar and wind energy availability in Brazil.
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