Geração de energia hidrelétrica em propriedades rurais do Oeste Catarinense- um estudo de caso

Abstract

The hydroelectric facilities represent 65% of the total amount of electric energy produced in Brazil, the strong dependency from this form of cheap and renewable energy makes that South and Southeastern regions have already exhaust its hydraulic potential of the main rivers, mostly 30 years ago. In 2000, the Brazilian scenario of negligence around the search of new resources of energy culminated in an energy crisis in the following years. To solve the matter, was built 49 thermoelectric facilities. What was proposed to be a palliative step until find new cheap and renewable energy sources, become the main solution, and today, Brazil has to face again the possibility of an energy crisis. In this scenario, the present work analyzed the energy generation capacity of a small family-run farm in the countryside of Palmitos SC County, with the objective to identify the potential of this kind of energy in small rivers. The farm was chosen by its representativeness of the Santa Catarina west region, its family-run, hilly area, and its surrounded by a small river. Was analyzed the river flow rate over six months, measuring the cross section of the river and the water flow speed, and the gauge. The facility model for the development was estimated due the river characteristics, the chosen model so, was the Crossflow turbine, and the value was estimated with specialized companies. In the period of studies, the flow rate varied from 0,101 m³s-1 à 0,009 m³/s-1, effect of the rain seasonality, and the gauge is 17,318 m, giving an media installed capacity from the six months of 5,3 kW, or 3.816 kWh per month, which in current values means R$ 1602,00 per month. The total cost estimated is R$ 77.600,00. Were utilized three economic indicators to evaluate the attractiveness of the project, Payback, NPV and IRR. The project demonstrated to be attractive in two of three simulated scenarios. In the most optimist the IRR was 74%, the NPV R$ 133.062,46 and the Payback in two years and one month. Besides that, the study reveals that the hydro energy is 35% cheaper than the photovoltaic energy, being, by the way, one renewable energy alternative source in farms.