Variabilidade na geração baseada em fontes renováveis: o potencial do Maranhão no fornecimento de flexibilidade ao sistema interligado nacional.

Abstract

The increase of non-dispatchable renewable sources supply in Brazilian electrical matrix is changing system's planning and operation complexity level. These sources main characteristics are the high variability and the difficulty of forecasting its generation. In this scenario, electrical system must respond properly to variations in generation from these sources. In other words, system must be flexible and, therefore, have mechanisms capable of compensating for this variability. Hydroelectric plants are main responsible for providing flexibility, however the difficulty of building new hydroelectric plants requires the installation of other technologies. Thus, this work evaluates and discuss characteristics of a flexible generators and concludes that Natural Gas Power Plants are among the most viable technically and economically to compensate for these variations and thus contribute to the energy security of the system. Therefore, this work evaluated some market mechanisms that can increase the supply of flexible resources, such as: bilateral contracts between non-dispatchable and flexible generators, ramping ancillary services, demand response, among others. Finally, assessed Maranhão State’s potential for receiving flexible resources. In Brazil, Maranhão is the 2nd largest natural gas producer onshore. Currently thermoelectric plants use all natural gas production to generate electricity and these plants already play an important role in system’s energy security. However, Maranhão may also use its large natural gas reserves to feed flexible generators and contribute to system’s flexibility in the face of increasing penetration of renewables. Maranhão has an excellent electrical energy transmission infrastructure and may receive liquified natural gas (LNG) terminals associated with thermoelectric power plants. Lastly, this work presents the main impacts of renewable sources penetration in Brazilian electrical matrix, some possible solutions and the role that Maranhão can play in this scenario.