Energy

10A Regime Complex and Technological Innovation in Energy System: A Brazilian Experience

Pooja Sharma

Daulat Ram College, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India

10.1 Introduction

Brazil, a Latin American, is the fifth largest country in the world, while biggest in South America (IBGE) ‘The Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics’. It is the most prominent country in terms of international trade in South America. The institutional regime of Brazil facilitated Brazil to accomplish carbon‐intensive growth. In Brazil, around 45% of primary energy demand is achieved by renewable energy (IEA 2012). ‘It has laid down ambitious targets of Bio‐power 19.3 GW, small – scale hydropower 7.8 GW and wind power 15.6 GW by 2021’ (Renewable Energy Policy Brief BRAZIL+ 2015).

Brazil is instrumental in promoting and advocating the consumption of biofuel, and it exhibits one of the greatest proportions of renewable sources. Consequently, Brazil began substituting oil for ethanol in the 1970s. ‘Biofuel has been a prior concern of Brazilian foreign policy and ethanol diplomacy from 2006 to 2010’. ‘Between 1960 and 1990 the federal government worked in the arena of national and regional interest between 1960 and 1990, while states limited their scope for generation, transmission and distribution of electricity’ (Roehrkasten 2015).

This phenomenal success has been an outcome of a considerable investment in Research and Development and innovation in renewable technology in Brazil. The country ...