Abstract
According to the demands of energy saving and carbon emission reduction, the water vs. energy nexus has become a major concern worldwide. Brazil occupies a singular position in the global energy system. A major portion of the Brazilian occupancies has electricity and the energy system expansion that, at first, possesses adequate means for supporting the economic growing may experience some turnovers. The Brazil determination through alternative fuels was a natural choice, given its large hydropower potential and land agricultural base. In the transportation sector Brazil has developed its energy matrix towards an important rate of ethanol and biodiesel. Although those fuels are low carbon emitter, they may probably not be an affordable alternative regarding land use, food security and water footprint. In this way, considering the recent advances in the exploration of oil from Pre-salt (9-15 million barrels) and the discovery of shale gas wells up to 245 tcf, together to unfavorable social and environmental issues associated to biofuels, the Brazilian energy matrix might turn back to the fossil fuels again. These represent challenges to the Brazilian policymakers and how they will be solved will reflect not only in Brazil but also to the world at large.
Highlights
Water and energy are the most fundamental elements that support life and major aspects of the modern civilization
In spite the fact that those fuels are low carbon emitter, biofuels may probably not be an affordable alternative when we think about land use, food security and the water footprint. In this way, taking into account the recent advances in the exploration of oil from the Pre-salt and the discovery of shale gas/oil wells up to 245 tcf (EIA 2013, Da Rocha et al 2013), together to the unfavorable social and environmental issues associated to the biofuels, there would be a chance the Brazilian energy matrix could be probably turn back to the fossil fuels again
The share in the contribution among renewable and non-renewable resources in the electric energy matrix will depend on the choices the Brazilian Government and policymakers will make
Summary
Water and energy are the most fundamental elements that support life and major aspects of the modern civilization. In spite the fact biofuels require more water for unit of energy production, regular fossil fuels drilling and exploration, and unconventional oil and natural gas extraction by hydrofracking uses large amounts of water and generates even larger quantities of wastewater that is a major environmental concern.
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