8 ms·

Brazil's hydro power adds to global gas surplus

40 points by rustoo 3y ago

cassepipe 3y ago
Tldr: Drought means less hydro power means people buy gas powered generators
rasz 3y ago
>Brazil's gas imports fell to their lowest level for two decades in 2023 but not oil, russian oil "Brazil’s imports of Russian oil products soar" https://www.ft.com/content/7ebb679e-099e-49ac-a750-73ca46538dee https://www.ft.com/content/7ebb679e-099e-49ac-a750-73ca46538... "Brazilian imports of diesel from Russia last year soared 4,600 per cent while purchases of fuel oil rose by almost 400 per cent, in a $8.6bn boost to the Russian economy as the war in Ukraine enters its third year. Brasília imported 6.1mn tonnes of diesel from Russia in 2023, a 6,000 per cent increase from the 101,000 tonnes the previous year. The value in dollar terms increased 4,600 per cent from $95mn to $4.5bn"
forinti 3y ago
The irony is that the distribution company in my state has been privatised and the QoS has nosedived. People are looking for backups and by far the fastest and easiest solution is to buy a diesel powered generator (which doesn't have the same emissions/noise requirements as cars). There is visible growth in solar, but you see it more often in businesses, because the return on investment takes a long time for a house (10-15 years).
- matheusmoreira 3y ago
  > the return on investment takes a long time for a house I completely covered my home's front rooftop with solar panels and they paid for themselves in about three years time. They're so effective that we have politicians campaigning against government incentives for renewable energy. Too many rich people and corporations are benefiting it seems, can't have that. This is despite the fact that they don't actually pay us for the energy we generate. They give us "kWh credits" which expire if unused after one year. Were it not for that, I'd have even more solar panels in service.
  - CamelCaseName 3y ago
    Can you sell the kWh credits? That's nonsense if you can't.
    - matheusmoreira 3y ago
      They cannot be sold. They are non-transferable. Best I can do is use it to offset the energy costs of other properties in my name. Even if they were transferable, I'd probaby get cents on the dollar for them. They expire so they must be worth less than a real kWh. Why would anyone buy these things otherwise? If they were worth the same, people would simply pay their energy bills instead of buying credits from me.
  - dzhiurgis 3y ago
    My estimate for diy solar is 3-5 years and 10+ years if I pay someone else (in NZ). Unfortunately I can’t diy myself with connecting to network (unless I get massive battery which pushes payback to same 10yrs or so). DIY simply not feasible for many people, esp in places with stringent laws or where houses changes hands frequently.
    - matheusmoreira 3y ago
      I posted some numbers here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39339129 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39339129 How much would it cost to build a system like mine in NZ? In other countries?
- Affric 3y ago
  In Brazil? In Australia ROI for solar is 3-5 years. Why do you think the discrepancy? Aircon? Grid prices?
  - toomuchtodo 3y ago
    Brazil solar payback should be closer to 2-5 years. https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=56200 https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=56200
    - seiferteric 3y ago
      For roof top solar? Can you give an example of some numbers? Around here in NorCal, would cost ~20k for a system, and would save maybe $2400 a year, so would be more like 8.3 years.
      - toomuchtodo 3y ago
        US residential rooftop is wildly expensive compared to other countries due to soft costs ($3-$4/watt vs $1-2). California’s “unique” electric utility and solar policy approach doesn’t help. I put solar on a friend’s roof in Sydney Australia (their landlord’s specifically, due to a lease to purchase agreement) for under $1/watt.
        seiferteric 3y ago
        I had wondered about that... I am actually contemplating installing my own solar from a kit, which costs about half as much.
        dalyons 3y ago
        I have noticed this! But I dont get it. Construction labour in the US is generally much cheaper than in australia. In fact almost everything is cheaper in the US. Why is solar so much more expensive? whats in those "soft costs"?
        3y ago
Ellatrones 3y ago
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40 points by rustoo 3y ago

Tldr: Drought means less hydro power means people buy gas powered generators

rasz 3y ago

>Brazil's gas imports fell to their lowest level for two decades in 2023 but not oil, russian oil "Brazil’s imports of Russian oil products soar" https://www.ft.com/content/7ebb679e-099e-49ac-a750-73ca46538dee https://www.ft.com/content/7ebb679e-099e-49ac-a750-73ca46538... "Brazilian imports of diesel from Russia last year soared 4,600 per cent while purchases of fuel oil rose by almost 400 per cent, in a $8.6bn boost to the Russian economy as the war in Ukraine enters its third year. Brasília imported 6.1mn tonnes of diesel from Russia in 2023, a 6,000 per cent increase from the 101,000 tonnes the previous year. The value in dollar terms increased 4,600 per cent from $95mn to $4.5bn"

forinti 3y ago

The irony is that the distribution company in my state has been privatised and the QoS has nosedived. People are looking for backups and by far the fastest and easiest solution is to buy a diesel powered generator (which doesn't have the same emissions/noise requirements as cars). There is visible growth in solar, but you see it more often in businesses, because the return on investment takes a long time for a house (10-15 years).

matheusmoreira 3y ago
> the return on investment takes a long time for a house I completely covered my home's front rooftop with solar panels and they paid for themselves in about three years time. They're so effective that we have politicians campaigning against government incentives for renewable energy. Too many rich people and corporations are benefiting it seems, can't have that. This is despite the fact that they don't actually pay us for the energy we generate. They give us "kWh credits" which expire if unused after one year. Were it not for that, I'd have even more solar panels in service.
- CamelCaseName 3y ago
  Can you sell the kWh credits? That's nonsense if you can't.
  - matheusmoreira 3y ago
    They cannot be sold. They are non-transferable. Best I can do is use it to offset the energy costs of other properties in my name. Even if they were transferable, I'd probaby get cents on the dollar for them. They expire so they must be worth less than a real kWh. Why would anyone buy these things otherwise? If they were worth the same, people would simply pay their energy bills instead of buying credits from me.
- dzhiurgis 3y ago
  My estimate for diy solar is 3-5 years and 10+ years if I pay someone else (in NZ). Unfortunately I can’t diy myself with connecting to network (unless I get massive battery which pushes payback to same 10yrs or so). DIY simply not feasible for many people, esp in places with stringent laws or where houses changes hands frequently.
  - matheusmoreira 3y ago
    I posted some numbers here: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39339129 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39339129 How much would it cost to build a system like mine in NZ? In other countries?
Affric 3y ago
In Brazil? In Australia ROI for solar is 3-5 years. Why do you think the discrepancy? Aircon? Grid prices?
- toomuchtodo 3y ago
  Brazil solar payback should be closer to 2-5 years. https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=56200 https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=56200
  - seiferteric 3y ago
    For roof top solar? Can you give an example of some numbers? Around here in NorCal, would cost ~20k for a system, and would save maybe $2400 a year, so would be more like 8.3 years.
    - toomuchtodo 3y ago
      US residential rooftop is wildly expensive compared to other countries due to soft costs ($3-$4/watt vs $1-2). California’s “unique” electric utility and solar policy approach doesn’t help. I put solar on a friend’s roof in Sydney Australia (their landlord’s specifically, due to a lease to purchase agreement) for under $1/watt.
      - seiferteric 3y ago
        I had wondered about that... I am actually contemplating installing my own solar from a kit, which costs about half as much.
      - dalyons 3y ago
        I have noticed this! But I dont get it. Construction labour in the US is generally much cheaper than in australia. In fact almost everything is cheaper in the US. Why is solar so much more expensive? whats in those "soft costs"?
        3y ago

Ellatrones 3y ago

[dead]