Committee decides to lower the use of thermoelectric power generation GTCIT Magazine The Monitoring Committee of the Electric Sector (CMSE) decided on Monday (May 30, 2012), to dim

Committee decides to lower the use of thermoelectric

power generation

GTCIT Magazine

The Monitoring Committee of the Electric Sector (CMSE) decided on Monday (May 30, 2012), to diminish the thermoelectric power generation in Brazil as of next week. According to the Ministry of Mines and Energy, Márcio Zimmermann, the thermoelectric generation, which currently averages 4.000 megawatts (MW), should now be reduced to 2.500 MW.

These plants are used in Brazil mainly to prevent a power outage in the country in times of drought, when the reservoirs of the dams are low. But the ministry assured that the reservoir of the hydroelectric plants are satisfactory, and that there will be no need to resort to the thermoelectric resources.

According to the Minister Zimmermann, the Southeast has an average of 90% of its reservoirs full, which is an excellent level for this time of year. Even the Northeast, whose reservoir levels are a little lower, do not compromise system security.

“The system is operating perfectly within the current conditions, which safely allows us to reduce the generation of thermoelectric energy. This will give us an economic surplus that can be used towards system maintenance and in the implementation of new quality programs for the energy sector”, he said.

He also explained that: “of course, this does not mean that the committee will not be flexible as to this decision in case the current conditions take an unexpected turn.” They will be following the reduction of the projection for the coming months and, if necessary, the plans will be changed according to the demands vis-a-vis the resources.

Available at: <http://www.gtcit.com/publicaciond.php?PublicacionId

=67700&lang=en>. Retrieved on: 13 June 2012. Adapted.

According to the text, a consequence of the thermoelectric energy reduction is the