Matéria de Capa | ENERGIAS RENOVÁVEIS - Desafios e oportunidades | 01/10/2023

Summary

This video highlights the global shift towards clean and renewable energy, with a focus on Brazil's potential to lead the energy transition. It explores innovative technologies such as underwater turbines for generating energy from ocean currents and Brazil's pioneering role in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). The video also covers sustainable solutions in electric car battery recycling, biofuel production, and the growing impact of solar and wind energy. It underscores the need for international collaboration and investment in renewable resources to combat climate change, ensuring a cleaner, greener future for all.

Takeaways

• 😀 Over 80% of the world's energy comes from non-renewable sources like oil, coal, and natural gas, which are polluting and finite.
• 🌊 A Brazilian startup has developed underwater turbines that can generate three times more energy than wind turbines, capturing energy from ocean currents.
• 🔋 Brazil's energy matrix is already over 80% renewable, much higher than the global average, making the country a potential leader in the energy transition.
• 🌍 Sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), particularly Brazilian ethanol, can help reduce aviation's greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80%.
• 🔋 The recycling and reuse of lithium batteries is essential to avoid environmental hazards, with a Brazilian company leading the way in processing used batteries for new applications.
• 🚗 Brazilian students have created a biodiesel from cooking oil to fuel a bus, demonstrating how innovation in sustainability can come from educational projects.
• ⚡ Partnerships between universities, the private sector, and public authorities are critical for accelerating the energy transition and developing new technologies.
• 🦠 Brazilian researchers discovered that the saliva of a fly contains enzymes that can break down organic matter to produce biofuels, contributing to sustainable energy development.
• 🚂 Hydrogen-powered vehicles, including trains in Germany and China, are showing promise for reducing CO2 emissions in transportation.
• 🌱 Biomass, such as food scraps and animal waste, can be transformed into renewable energy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and offering a cleaner alternative to fossil fuels.
• ☀️ Solar energy, driven by large-scale photovoltaic projects and rooftop installations, is set to become the largest source of global clean energy, with an expected 330 gigawatts of growth in 2022.

Q & A

What percentage of the world's energy matrix still relies on fossil fuels?

More than 80% of the world's energy matrix still relies on fossil fuels like oil, coal, and natural gas, which are non-renewable and polluting.

What is the main challenge in the planet's energy transition?

The main challenge in the planet's energy transition is shifting from non-renewable fossil fuels to clean, renewable energy sources to reduce pollution and ensure sustainability.

How does the underwater turbine technology developed by a Brazilian startup work?

The underwater turbine developed by the Brazilian startup captures energy from ocean currents. One model produces three times more energy than wind turbines, and its small size allows it to be installed in rivers without affecting marine life.

What inspired Maurício Queiroz to create the underwater turbine technology?

Maurício Queiroz was inspired after being dragged a kilometer by ocean currents during a dive in Ilhabela, São Paulo. He realized the potential of ocean currents to generate energy as they can move ships weighing thousands of tons.

How much of Brazil's water area could theoretically supply the world's energy demand using the underwater turbines?

Using just 0.02% of Brazil's nearly 6 million square kilometers of water, it is estimated that the energy produced could supply the entire world's energy demand.

What are the environmental advantages of underwater turbines compared to wind turbines?

Underwater turbines are much smaller than wind turbines and can be installed in rivers without the negative effects associated with hydroelectric plants. They do not cause visual or noise pollution and are designed to protect marine life.

What role can Brazilian ethanol play in reducing aviation's carbon emissions?

Brazilian ethanol can help reduce aviation's carbon emissions by replacing kerosene with sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), which reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% compared to kerosene.

How does Brazil's energy matrix compare to the global average?

Brazil's energy matrix is ahead of the global average, with more than 80% of its energy coming from renewable sources, compared to the global average of less than 30%.

What is the significance of lithium battery recycling in Brazil?

Lithium battery recycling in Brazil is crucial for managing the disposal of electric vehicle batteries, preventing environmental hazards like fires and toxic pollution, while also enabling the reuse of materials for new batteries or energy storage solutions.

How can students in Paraná contribute to the energy transition?

Students in Paraná have created a project where cooking oil is converted into biodiesel to fuel buses. This initiative demonstrates how local innovation can contribute to sustainable energy solutions and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.