Spring Flowers

Spring Flowers
For Sale

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

My Town Friday Shoot-out – Power

In 1950,  Brazil's capacity to produce electrical power was only 1.9 Kilowatts, in 2002 Brasil generated 339.1 BILLION Kilowatt-hours.

Brasil is the 3rd largest producer and consumer of electricity in the western hemisphere. (Behind the USA and Canada) In 2002, 83% of its power production was hydropower, 10% thermal (Oil, natural gas, and coal), 4% renewable and 3% nuclear. It is being forecast that Brasil will produce 36% South America’s electricity needs by 2013.

DSC05840

Brazilian side Iguacu falls

In 2008, Brasil had 706 hydroelectric power plants in operation. The largest is the Itapúa dam which produces over 94+ billon kilowatts of power annually and is considered the largest dam of it kind in the world. This dam on the Parana river and just up stream from the world famous Iguacu falls is jointly owned and operated with Paraguay. The dam was begun in 1975 and became fully operational in 1982

.DSC_1460

Argentina side Iguacu falls

DSC_1351 DSC_1358

  Itapúa dam

DSC_1362 DSC_1366  

The transmission wires carry the electricity 1000s of miles loosing nearly 15% of the power before reaching Sao Paulo and Rio.

This power generation is just one of the dichotomies in Brasil.  This country, rich in natural recourses and knowledge of power generation technology, technology now being exported throughout the world (As we speak Brasil is providing China with the technology for a super, super dam) is still unable to bring a stable power supply to its smaller cities.  There are areas in the Amazon region that just received electrical power in the past 5 years. (Amid much controversy a damn is being built in the eco-sensitive region)

DSC04437

 DSC_2993

In Friburgo, the fronts and sides of buildings are still wired with old and messy electrical wires. Some are still pirated to provide the older buildings with electricity. This doesn’t happen as often as even 10 years ago when if you wanted electricity or telephone you just ran a wire from your nearest neighbor’s connection – but it does still happen.  Sometimes when I am paying the bill for the house, and it is over R$300.00 with no heat or air-conditioning, no hot water tank, and only two people living in our house, sometimes I wonder if someone hasn’t hooked their house up to ours…. 

10 comments:

  1. Wow! I can hear my power meter spinning now. Great shots, GingerV.

    Love all that rushing water.

    I wish the US had had the insight to get ahead on energy when they warned 30 years ago (maybe longer). But we have lobbyist here who want to keep us in the dark ages as long as their companies can make a buck. Brazil is way ahead of us in energy.

    ReplyDelete
  2. great photos and facts!

    you take great photos!

    thanks for sharing!

    cheers!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hey! Great to see a Friday power shoot showing up the day before the signs shoot. And your wires reminded me of an old shot I should have posted last week. I may post for today too...

    ReplyDelete
  4. Wow, incredible pictures of the falls. I need to go to Brasil!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Ditto on Patty's statement...

    Love the falls too, I have never been to Niagara Falls either...maybe a second honeymoon, no I want Brazil!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I learn something new everytime I come here! Powerful pics.
    <><

    ReplyDelete
  7. WOW! now that is a lot of power. better late than never they say. Great shoot out GingerV!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Discovery! I love it! Thanks, Ginger.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Wonderful photos and I always enjoy your commentary.

    ReplyDelete