ENERLAC. Revista de energía de Latinoamérica y el Caribe

ANÁLISIS BIOFÍSICO DEL CICLO DE VIDA EN LA PRODUCCIÓN DE ECOLADRILLOS EN LAS ISLAS GALÁPAGOS

Luis Pinzón — 2025-03-26

Los recursos minerales y energéticos en las Islas Galápagos son limitados, lo que afecta las dinámicas socioeconómicas, sobre todo en la construcción de edificaciones. Los materiales de construcción deben importarse desde continente, lo que incrementa el consumo de combustibles fósiles y las emisiones de gases de efecto invernadero (GEI). Como alternativa para reducir la presión sobre el ecosistema, se ha comenzado a producir y utilizar ecoladrillos fabricados con vidrio reciclado, siguiendo los principios de la economía circular (EC). No obstante, la producción de ecoladrillos requiere energía y materiales imprevistos, lo que podría afectar su sostenibilidad. El estudio se propuso analizar los flujos biofísicos presentes en la producción de ecoladrillos en Galápagos, con un enfoque particular en las emisiones de dióxido de carbono equivalente (CO₂e) derivadas del consumo de materiales y energía. Utilizando la metodología de Análisis del Ciclo de Vida (ACV), se determinó que la producción de 16,800 ecoladrillos generó 5 toneladas de CO₂e. El uso de cemento fue responsable del 79.40% de las emisiones totales y del 62.2% de la energía utilizada. En comparación con la producción de un bloque de hormigón convencional, la energía incorporada se reduce en un 12.5%, mientras que las emisiones aumentaron en un 16.8%.

SOLAR ENERGY TIME SERIES ANALYSIS VIA MARKOV CHAINS

Marianne Bechara Elabras da Motta Veiga — 2025-03-26

Brazil, given a global scenario of concern with climate change, has been increasing the use of renewable energy, especially solar energy in the last years. With the growth in its participation, the characteristics of solar energy, such as intermittence and random fluctuations, have been affecting the operation planning of the Brazilian Electricity System (BES). Such factors can be studied with time series modeling, helping the planning of power plants and BES. In order to contribute to the factor analysis, the objective of this research is to analyze the characteristics of photovoltaic energy generation in the meteorological seasons of the year in two regions of Brazil with different solar incidences. For this, a methodology based on Markov Chain concepts is applied. The work stands out for the subdivision of the time series between the climatic seasons, for the use of data not yet studied and for the presentation of the methodology and results in detail. The objective of the research was successfully achieved, making evident the differences between the solar energy generation models between the meteorological seasons and the two regions studied.

Uma análise sobre a influência geopolítica da transição energética na cadeia de valor global de materiais críticos

Bruna Targino — 2025-03-26

A medida que el mundo avanza hacia la transición energética, la demanda por materiales críticos aumenta significativamente debido a la necesidad de nuevas tecnologías con baja huella de carbono. Así, la producción y el procesamiento de minerales y metales altamente concentrados geográficamente, considerados críticos, representan una dinámica geopolítica compleja de escasez y abastecimiento. En este sentido, el presente artículo discute la relación entre recursos y reservas de materiales considerados críticos con el fin de analizar la concentración de estos materiales en todo el mundo. Para ello, se utiliza el Índice de Herfindahl-Hirschman (IHH) para evaluar el grado de concentración de los materiales y, en consecuencia, la producción de nuevas dependencias económicas y geopolíticas. Este análisis busca identificar riesgos asociados con la escasez y la concentración de estos recursos, esenciales para la transición energética.

PROMOTING INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT FOR THE ENERGY TRANSITION IN LATIN AMERICA: LESSONS FROM THE WIND ENERGY AND THE GREEN HYDROGEN SECTORS IN ARGENTINA

Eugenia Castelao — 2025-03-26

The energy transition has emerged as a global trend, requiring a profound transformation of the energy matrix by gradually eliminating fossil fuels and incorporating diverse technologies for power generation from renewable sources. This paper delves into the technological learning and innovation processes observed during Argentina's wind industry emergence and consolidation to develop hypotheses about the interplay between demand and the technological cycle in driving innovation around renewable energy technologies, for example the green hydrogen industry, in peripheral countries. Based on a case study methodology, our analysis suggests that natural resource-based firms may not be as critical in the technological learning process, particularly during the emergence phase of the cycle. Instead, knowledge-intensive suppliers play a more significant role in the innovation process surrounding the transformation of energy-related natural resources. However, questions remain regarding the specificity of energy-related natural resources and their potential to create opportunities for the emergence of local knowledge networks.

Identificación de los posibles Impactos Ambientales de la producción de hidrógeno verde a partir de proyectos eólicos offshore.

Luisa Rivas — 2025-03-26

En el presente trabajo se analizan potenciales impactos ambientales de la producción de hidrógeno verde en proyectos eólicos offshore en la Zona Económica Exclusiva de Uruguay. El hidrógeno verde es una alternativa para descarbonizar el sector energético, aunque su producción demanda significativos recursos. La eólica offshore, dado la potencia nominal de los aerogeneradores, ofrece mayor potencial de generación eléctrica, pero conlleva mayores costos y complejidades técnicas. Se examinan las actividades durante las etapas de desarrollo, construcción y operación. A partir de la revisión de investigaciones ambientales sobre proyectos eólicos offshore y producción de hidrógeno verde, se identifican los impactos ambientales principales en cada fase. Durante el desarrollo, se observan impactos como aumento de ruido, vibraciones y alteraciones en el lecho marino debido a estudios geofísicos y geotécnicos. En construcción, el dragado y la instalación de fundaciones y cables pueden suspender sedimentos, afectar la calidad del agua y aumentar el ruido afectando la fauna marina. En operación, los impactos incluyen colisiones de aves y aumento del ruido submarino. La desalinización del agua puede alterar la salinidad y oxigenación del agua, pero conserva los recursos hídricos terrestres. Los impactos también incluyen ruido y riesgos de fugas de gases. Esta investigación busca ofrecer una visión integral que pueda servir de base para la toma de decisiones de los responsables de políticas, los desarrolladores de proyectos y otros actores clave.

China and the global expansion of green energy technologies

Ricardo Lopes Kotz — 2025-03-26

China has become a global leader in ion-lithium batteries and has used these capabilities to develop an important innovation ecosystem in electric vehicles, which are now expanding to the world. The key driver to China’s successful promotion of electric vehicles has been industrial policy. Green technologies can be seen as the new frontier for the global expansion of Chinese firms due to their innovation and technological capabilities and Latin America is one of the main destinations for FDI in EVs, lithium and batteries. The present article examines the landscape and trends of FDI conducted by Chinese firms in the region, aiming to analyze the possibility for Latin-American countries to integrate Chinese-led value chain in green energy as part of their developmental processes and industrial policies. The key findings are preliminary, but we infer that there is a new phase of Chinese engagement in Latin America post-Covid, with a change in the profile of FDI: 1) relevant investments are now conducted not only through state owned enterprises, but increasingly made by private firms, especially when seeing outside of legacy sectors; 2) sectors of destination are slowly changing from oil, gas and agriculture towards renewable energy sources, electric vehicles and mining of strategic minerals such as lithium and rare earth minerals; 3) the flows of investments are smaller in the total quantity, but there is a higher number of projects in the region overall; 4) the FDI projects are increasingly directed in knowledge/technologically intensive sectors, instead of capital intensive ones, as was the case in traditional (legacy) sectors (such as electricity generation and oil) of the pre 2019 phase, which was the year of transition with the first EV projects being rolled out and the post-Covid period being the consolidation of this new phase, which is also seeing a gradual increase of greenfield investments as a mode of entry, vis-a-vis a predominance of mergers and acquisitions in the early to mid-2010’s.

ASSESSING URUGUAY’S GREEN HYDROGEN POTENTIAL: A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS OF ELECTRICITY AND HYDROGEN SECTOR OPTIMIZATION

Andrea Cadavid Isaza — 2025-03-26

Uruguay is setting out to become a leading exporter of green hydrogen and its derivatives, as described by the hydrogen roadmap. The primary aim of this study is to explore how the country's electricity system reacts to the goals outlined there. Another aim is to analyze how the green hydrogen sector could develop based on the market price for hydrogen. A methodology for distributing the costs among both sectors is proposed. The analysis reveals that very different pictures are painted in each of the scenarios, leading to completely different developments of the energy systems in Uruguay, substantial expansions in renewable energy capacities, particularly photovoltaic and wind power, are necessary to support a hydrogen economy. The market-driven scenarios, especially at higher hydrogen prices, show significant scale-ups in electrolyzer capacities. The economic viability of hydrogen production at higher price points suggests that hydrogen exports could become a profitable venture for Uruguay.

TECHNO-ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT OF THE USE OF GREEN HYDROGEN: CASE STUDY IN THE CERAMIC INDUSTRY

Sergio Luiz Pinto Castiñeiras Filho — 2025-03-26

The ceramic industry in Brazil consumes significant volumes of natural gas, usually for attending to processes that require high temperatures. Thus, the use of low-carbon H₂ becomes a potential alternative to be introduced into the sector's energy matrix, under a self-generation and self-consumption modality, in order to partially replace the consumption of natural gas in a specific process. Technical-economic modeling is carried out, using the H2V-IEPUC tool, on a case study conducted in partnership with the company Delta Porcelanato. The scale of production and use of H₂ were estimated based on international projects and taking as a reference industrial processes currently implemented at a factory. The feasibility of the green hydrogen project is demonstrated by carrying out a sensitivity analysis with technical and economic variables, in addition to presenting a deterministic feasibility scenario. The understanding of the case study contributes to industry subsectors by shedding light on the advantages and barriers related to the incorporation of low-carbon H₂ in operations, contributing to the construction of projects that are environmentally and economically sustainable.

Garantias financeiras: evoluções regulatórias para assegurar o efetivo descomissionamento das instalações de produção de petróleo e gás natural no Brasil

Marcelo Vítor Martins de Meneses — 2025-03-26

Diante do cenário de incertezas quanto ao futuro da indústria do petróleo e da possibilidade de responsabilização internacional em caso de poluição oceânica, países produtores de petróleo, dentre ele o Brasil, têm promovido a atualização dos seus normativos sobre descomissionamento de plataformas offshore. Assim, por meio de revisão dos principais normativos internacionais e brasileiros relacionados ao descomissionamento offshore, este artigo busca analisar o arcabouço regulatório brasileiro sobre a temática. Adicionalmente, são discutidas as principais questões a serem abordadas no processo de revisão da regulação de garantia financeira para mitigar o risco de o contribuinte arcar com o custo das operações de descomissionamento. Os resultados da análise indicaram haver falta de transparência na disponibilização de informações à sociedade sobre as atividades de exploração e produção de petróleo. Além disso, constatou-se a necessidade de aumentar a participação do sistema financeiro no provimento de garantias para o descomissionamento. Por fim, verificou-se a necessidade de o órgão regulador estabelecer parâmetros claros para a definição de estimativas de custo do descomissionamento. As melhorias propostas neste artigo pretendem contribuir para que países como o Brasil avancem em direção a uma transição energética justa, na qual os custos da transição sejam adequadamente suportados pelos seus respectivos responsáveis.

ED Editorial - Enerlac - ALADEE

Comité Editorial ENERLAC — 2025-03-26

Editorial - Enerlac - OLADE

Comité Editorial ENERLAC — 2025-03-26