Harmonized and Open Energy Dataset for Modeling a Highly Renewable Brazilian Power System

Abstract

Improvements in modelling energy systems of populous emerging economies are highly decisive for a successful global energy transition. The models used–increasingly open source–still need more appropriate open data. As an illustrative example, we take the Brazilian energy system, which has great potential for renewable energy resources but still relies heavily on fossil fuels. We provide a comprehensive open dataset for scenario analyses, which can be directly used with the popular open energy system model PyPSA and other modelling frameworks. It includes three categories: (1) time series data of variable renewable potentials, electricity load profiles, inflows for the hydropower plants, and cross-border electricity exchanges; (2) geospatial data on the administrative division of the Brazilian federal states; (3) tabular data, which contains power plant data with installed and planned generation capacities, aggregated grid network topology, biomass thermal plant potential, as well as scenarios of energy demand. Our dataset could enable further global or country-specific energy system studies based on open data relevant to decarbonizing Brazil’s energy system.

Carbon-neutral power system enabled e-kerosene production in Brazil in 2050

“…We evaluate the model assumptions concerning demand and generation potentials within the PyPSA-Brazil model (cf. Deng et al 49 and Supplementary Section C ), in light of Research Question 1. It particularly focuses on the potential for renewable energy generation and the projected energy demand in Brazil by 2050, with a special emphasis on e-kerosene.…”

“… Technology Status in 2019 (TWh) 69 Potential (TWh) 49 Offshore wind – 3552.9 Onshore wind 53.4 3114.0 Photovoltaic 5.0 513,669.2 Hydropower 405.6 2.0 Non-biomass thermal 73.3 – Biomass thermal 14.5 222.5 Nuclear 16.1 – Total 567.9 520,560.6 The computation represents the product of the allowed expansion capacity and the Energy to Power ratio, presented in h. The value is the multiplication outcome of the allowed expansion capacity (set at 25.4 GW) and the cumulative hours of the year, which amount to 8760 h. …”

“…Acknowledging the restrictions on expanding current hydropower facilities due to environmental and societal considerations 50 , we base our assumption on the growth trajectory laid out in the Brazilian Ten-Year Energy Plan 49 , 51 . To effectively integrate the production of e-kerosene in the aviation sector into the Brazilian energy mix, strategic decision-making must be made regarding locations and timings for electricity and e-kerosene production, with consideration of the aforementioned constraints and potentials.…”

“…Our analysis uses a novel energy system model, PyPSA-Brazil, specifically tailored for the Brazilian energy context. The model employs publicly accessible data sets (explicated in Deng et al 49 ) and adopts Python for Power System Analysis (PyPSA) framework 64 . A comprehensive description of PyPSA-Brazil—including its rationale, framework selection, formulation, and data sources— is available in the Supplementary Sections A to B .…”

“…The capacity expansion of hydropower is assumed, aligning with the National Ten-Year Expansion Plan 51 . See Deng et al 49 for details. In accordance with Brazil’s pledge to reach climate neutrality by 2050 18 , our scenario analysis is concentrated on this target year, disregarding the intermediate steps leading up to it.…”