(Des)matando as Hidrelétricas: A Ameaça do Desmatamento na Amazônia para a Energia do Brasil

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI/PUC-Rio) analyzes how deforestation in the Amazon rainforest reduces rainfall and river flow, thereby decreasing the electricity generation capacity and revenue of hydroelectric plants (HPPs) both within the Amazon and in distant regions of Brazil.

• Deforestation in the Amazon negatively impacts the national electricity generation capacity and revenue, affecting hydroelectric plants located thousands of kilometers away from the biome through the disruption of 'flying rivers' (moisture-laden air currents).
• A case study of the Teles Pires HPP in Mato Grosso indicates that deforestation between 1985 and 2020 led to a monthly generation loss of between 2.5% and 10%, which translates to an average annual revenue loss of R$ 118 million.
• In the Paraná Basin, deforestation in the Amazon caused an average generation loss of approximately 3% for analyzed plants. For the Salto HPP, this corresponds to a potential annual profit loss of approximately 10% for the controlling company, CTG Brasil S.A.
• The land tenure analysis for the Teles Pires HPP shows that Indigenous Lands (TIs) are the most critical land category for generation, representing 41.6% of the most influential forest area (the top 25%).
• For hydroelectric plants in the Paraná Basin, private rural properties registered in the Sigef system are the most significant land category, accounting for approximately 40% of the impact, followed by Indigenous Lands at approximately 20%.
• The reduction in hydroelectric capacity may compromise Brazil's energy security and increase electricity prices by forcing a greater reliance on thermal power plants, which have higher operating costs and emit more greenhouse gases.

APA

Pinto, G. R. S., Arbache, J., Antonaccio, L., & Chiavari, J. (2024). (Des)matando as Hidrelétricas: A Ameaça do Desmatamento na Amazônia para a Energia do Brasil. Climate Policy Initiative. https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/PB-Desmatando-as-Hidreletricas.pdf

Chicago

Pinto, Gustavo R. S., João Arbache, Luiza Antonaccio, and Joana Chiavari. (Des)matando as Hidrelétricas: A Ameaça do Desmatamento na Amazônia para a Energia do Brasil. Climate Policy Initiative, 2024. https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/PB-Desmatando-as-Hidreletricas.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Pinto |first1=Gustavo R. S. |last2=Arbache |first2=João |last3=Antonaccio |first3=Luiza |last4=Chiavari |first4=Joana |title=(Des)matando as Hidrelétricas: A Ameaça do Desmatamento na Amazônia para a Energia do Brasil |publisher=Climate Policy Initiative |date=2024 |url=https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/PB-Desmatando-as-Hidreletricas.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{pinto2024desmatando, author = {Pinto, Gustavo R. S. and Arbache, João and Antonaccio, Luiza and Chiavari, Joana}, title = {{(Des)matando as Hidrelétricas: A Ameaça do Desmatamento na Amazônia para a Energia do Brasil}}, institution = {Climate Policy Initiative}, year = {2024}, url = {https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/PB-Desmatando-as-Hidreletricas.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }