46% of Brazil's energy comes from renewable sources

[jpak]

http://news.mongabay.com/2008/0513-brazil.html

Preliminary data from Brazil's energy ministry shows that bioenergy derived from sugar cane surpassed hydroelectric power as Brazil's secondary largest source of energy in 2007, reports Biopact.

The annual National Energy Balance report produced by Empresa de Pesquisa Energética (EPE) shows that 46.4 percent of Brazil's energy comes from renewable sources. By comparison, renewable energy accounts for 5.2 percent of power in OECD countries. In the U.S., about 7 percent of energy came from renewables in 2006 according to the Energy Information Administration.

In Brazil ethanol and pulp made up about 16 percent of Brazil's energy output in 2007, a 10 percent increase over 2006. Hydroelectric power generation decline 0.1 percentage points to 14.7 percent in 2007.

Overall Brazilian energy demand grew 5.9 percent in 2007, greater than the 5.4 growth rate for the Brazilian economy as a whole.

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[navarth]

1. That's good news IF...

they're not cutting down rain forest to grow the biomass. Right?

[twiceshy]

2. I was there recently and it is amazing.......

You go to a "gas station" and have your choice of gasoline, ethanol, gas-ethanol, deisel and natural gas. The taxi we took a tour in used natuaral gas and the cabbie claimed it cost about 1/2 of what gasoline would cost. We are idiots who allow the Oil companies to dictate what we can use.

[navarth]

3. that's fine dude but you're not addressing my concern

are they cutting down rain forest to grow the biomass?

[poopfuel]

4. they're cutting it down

for soy and meat production. Population expansion is a factor.
Sugar cane crops take up no more than 2 percent of Brazil's arable land.

[navarth]

5. Godz help us. nt