Learn more about the latest legislative and judicial developments in energy in the April 2023 edition of our Energy Newsletter
Green Hydrogen Commission begins work in the Senate
The Special Commission for Debate on Green Hydrogen Public Policy held its first meeting in April.
The Commission’s purpose is to discuss public policies on green hydrogen over a period of two years, to promote growth of this clean energy technology and assess public policies that will foster green hydrogen technology. One of the Commission’s main objectives is to establish a legal framework for green hydrogen in order to attract potential investors.
The committee will be chaired by Senator Cid Gomes (PDT-CE) and Senator Otto Alencar (PSD-BA) will serve as rapporteur. The other members of the Commission will be Senators Marcos Pontes (PL-SP), Fernando Dueire (MDB-PE), Luis Carlos Heinze (PP-RS), Randolfe Rodrigues (Rede-AP), and Rodrigo Cunha (União-AL). The alternate members will be Senators Ciro Nogueira (PP-PI), Eliziane Gama (PSD-MA), and Eduardo Girão (Novo-CE).
Access the Commission’s Plan of Work here.
Government to map areas for natural gas and carbon storage
The Energy Research Company (EPE – Empresa de Pesquisa Energética) plans to identify the most promising areas for Underground Natural Gas Storage (UNGS) in Brazil. To do so, the EPE will hire consultants specializing in UNGS, with Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) as an area of secondary interest.
The consulting services will include (i) preparing a report on well-developed UNGS legislation and regulations in other countries; (ii) creating an inventory of UNGS areas in Brazil by conducting geological and geophysical studies, and presenting an initial portfolio of areas in Brazilian sedimentary basins suitable for UNGS purposes; (iii) presenting geological engineering models for UNGS; and (iv) evaluating CCUS targets based on the inventoried UNGS areas.
The work is set to commence in the second half of 2023 and is expected to be completed within 18 months.
Click here for more information on the contract notice issued by the EPE.
CCEE and World Bank to assist countries in regulating hydrogen markets
Brazil’s Electrical Power Trading Chamber (CCEE – Câmara de Comercialização de Energia Elétrica) will be part of a World Bank initiative to assist developing countries in regulating hydrogen markets. The focus of the assistance will be hydrogen certification, contributing to the establishment of criteria for classifying inputs as low carbon.
The World Bank project was launched at COP 27, held in 2022, and addresses topics ranging from financing, technologies, and business models to governance and circular economies. The main objective will be to create an environment that fosters competitiveness among stakeholders, as well as making low-carbon hydrogen attractive and secure for investors.
Maurício Tolmasquim is new head of strategic planning at Petrobras
Maurício Tomalsquim has taken on the role of Executive Manager of Strategy at Petrobras, the department responsible for developing the company’s multi-year investment plans and long-term planning. As part of the company’s executive management, he reports to the CEO. Prior to joining Petrobras, Tomalsquim was President of the Energy Research Company – EPE and an Executive
Brazil’s Chamber of Deputies approves urgent processing for a proposed Legislative Decree that will suspend regulations on distributed mini- and microgeneration
Proposed Legislative Decree no. 65 of 2023 (PDL 65/2023) has been approved for urgent processing, which allows the bill to go directly to voting by the Chamber of Deputies.
PDL 65/2023 would suspend parts of Resolution 1000/2021, under which ANEEL, Brazil’s electrical power regulator, established rules for the provision of public power distribution services. The PDL targets provisions on the connection and billing of distributed mini- and microgeneration plants.
The PDL would suspend four points under ANEEL Resolution 1000/2021, including the rule that requires all low-voltage consumers (Group B) with distributed mini- or microgeneration plants to pay the distribution system usage tariff (TUSD).
Click here to see the status of PDL 65/2023.
MME opens Public Consultation on Reservoir Recovery Plan
The Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) has opened Public Consultation 150/2023 to receive suggestions on the “Structuring Actions and Constructing Global Indicators” report under the Ministry’s Reservoir Recovery Plan (RRP).
The RRP was developed by a Working Group coordinated by the MME, with the participation of the Ministry of Regional Development – MDR, the Energy Research Company – EPE, and the National Power System Operator – ONS. The Plan is designed to align initiatives for the gradual recovery of reservoir storage in hydroelectric power plants over a 10-year period, and to organize the initiatives in accordance with the directives under Law 14.182/2021.
The expectation is that the contributions submitted in the Public Consultation will allow the MME to refine the indicators contained in the report and the goals associated with them, which will serve as an important tool for monitoring implementation of the initiatives proposed in the PRR.
The Public Consultation began on April 18 and contributions will be accepted until May 31, 2023.
Click here to access Public Consultation 150/2023.
