Análise dos Determinantes do Curtailment no Nordeste Brasileiro

The formation of the Brazilian electrical matrix has been historically marked by the predominance of hydropower plants, which have accounted for a large part of the country's energy generation. However, in recent decades, the expansion of hydropower has become increasingly difficult due to environmental issues and the saturation of available areas for large projects. As a result, Brazil has sought to diversify its electrical matrix, with an emphasis on renewable energies, especially solar and wind. However, the transition to these renewable sources has created new challenges, particularly with regard to energy generation modulation. Modulation is the process of adjusting energy production to meet demand, which, in the current context, has been done mainly by thermal power plants, since the energy generated by renewables is intermittent and cannot be stored efficiently due to the technological infeasibility of large-scale batteries. This scenario requires more complex management of energy supply and demand, creating the need for solutions to optimize the use of renewable sources and reduce the use of thermal power plants, with the aim of ensuring a more sustainable and efficient operation of the electrical system. Curtailment, the practice of reducing renewable energy generation during periods of surplus, has intensified in Brazil and is the main focus of this work.