Examining the Contradictions of Small Hydro power Plants as Sustainable Energy Sources in Brazil

Abstract

Small Hydropower Plants (SHPs) have become prominent worldwide because of widespread efforts to expand energy supply. This development is partially due to the misguided idea that this type of power generation plants can cause insignificant environmental impacts when compared to their larger counterparts. As a result of this point of view, Brazil has relaxed environmental standards and granted financial incentives to facilitate and expedite the implementation of SHP. In addition, government programs such as the PROINFA and “Luz para todos” also contributed to the expansion of SHPs. Despite of the clean image and granted incentives to SHPs, there is scientific evidence to support the claim that SHPs, despite its smaller size, can alter the hydrological characteristics of aquatic ecosystems with impacts to biota at individual, population and community levels. In addition, there is scientific evidence showing that the environmental impacts caused by a number of SHPs may be larger than the impacts caused by large hydroelectric plants. Therefore, we argue that there is no reason to facilitate and streamline the procedures for the approval and implementation of SHPs. This article discusses the strategies used to accelerate the deployment of SHPs which weaken the environmental control instruments adopted in Brazil. We also address the perception that the environmental licensing instruments are obstacles to economic development. We argue that this type of behavior contributes to halt the position of the environmental dimension in the decision-making process by the electric energy sector. Finally, we proposed that SHPs, as any other potentially polluting development, should be subject to careful environmental assessments which can support the decision-making process regarding the establishing of sustainable alternatives for the expansion of electricity supply in Brazil.