T he Brazilian Association for Clean Energy Generation – ABRAGEL , has 14 years of experience in clean and renewable electric power , trough Small Hydroelectric Centrals ( PCH ´ S ). Nowadays , the PCH ´ s represents 3,58 % ( 4.677 MW ) of the Brazilian electric sources , with 467 ventures in action . Currently , there is a significant potencial to be explored , with almost 1.000 basic projects , witch represents nearly 10.000 MW in actual capacity .

The PCH ´ s are distributed over almost all national territory and located pretty near to consumption centers . This feature implies in several tecnical advantages for the brazilian electric system operation , especially for a more efficient use of transmission lines , in order to increase the development of local communities .

Due to it ´ s constructives carachteristics , witch demands reservoirs with small flooded area , the environmental impact is reduced and the benefits of environment programs developed by companies , like reservoirs boards reforestation , continuous monitoring of water , fauna and flora quality and environmental compensation , supplant the flooded areas , reducing local impacts produced by it ´ s deployment . Still in the environment point of view , the PCH ´ s are the alternative source that most presentes lower greenhouse gas emission , considering the hole productive chain of each source .

The operating system of the PCH ´ s is very stable in terms of power and energy , due to it ´ s

138 October 2014

Energy Magazine October 2014 | Page 138

“ The clean and renewable sources ( PCH ´ s , Wind , Solar and Biomass ) can reach 20 % of brazilian electrical system in the next 10 years .”