Linkages between the Promotion of Renewable Energy Policies and Low-Carbon Transition Trends in South America’s Electricity Sector

Drielli Peyerl, Mariana Oliveira Barbosa, Mariana Ciotta, Maria Rogieri Pelissari and Evandro Mateus Moretto
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Drielli Peyerl: Institute of Energy and Environment, University of São Paulo, Av. Professor Luciano Gualberto, São Paulo 1289, Brazil
Mariana Oliveira Barbosa: Institute of Energy and Environment, University of São Paulo, Av. Professor Luciano Gualberto, São Paulo 1289, Brazil
Mariana Ciotta: Institute of Energy and Environment, University of São Paulo, Av. Professor Luciano Gualberto, São Paulo 1289, Brazil
Maria Rogieri Pelissari: Institute of Energy and Environment, University of São Paulo, Av. Professor Luciano Gualberto, São Paulo 1289, Brazil
Evandro Mateus Moretto: School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities-EACH, University of São Paulo, Av. Arlindo Béttio, São Paulo 1000, Brazil

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 12, 1-18

Abstract: The decarbonization of the energy sector is among the leading global goals, and the electricity sector plays a crucial role in this low-carbon transition. However, South American countries have been underrepresented in this discussion. Understanding the particularities and the shifts in the electricity sector landscape of these countries over time and how natural resource availability, technology, and energy policies are decisive to a low-carbon transition summarizes the proposed matters in this research. This work aims to fill this gap by investigating past renewability trends in the electricity sector of five South American countries from 1990 to 2020 through five indicators. As a result, we observed a trend of low-carbon reverse transition in Argentina, Brazil, and Chile, despite the efforts and the success of renewable energy auctions, making short-term energy policy measures necessary. In Venezuela, there is a decrease in consumption and an increase in electricity generation using fossil fuels. Uruguay showed a rise in consumption and continued high use of renewables. Finally, energy policies focusing on quantifiable emission reduction should be a target of the electricity sector to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

Keywords: renewable energy policies; greenhouse gas; low-carbon transition; electricity sector; South America (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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