Supporting local small businesses through hydraulic energyThe Brazilian energy sector is one of the least carbon-intensive in the world: 45% of the primary energy demand is met by renewable electricity. One contributor to this is our carbon offset project located between the cities of Anita Garibaldi in the state of Santa Catarina and Pinhal da Serra in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. Here in the south of Brazil, a hydropower plant generates energy from renewable sources using the hydraulic potential of the Pelotas River with an installed capacity of 708 MW and assured energy of 380.6 MWh on average.
Every year, this project saves 608,680 tonnes of CO2-emissions by producing green energy instead of energy based on fossil fuels. The project also contributes to the local socio-economic development: 30% of the project's resources are invested in a development fund to finance small enterprises.
How hydropower contributes to climate actionHydropower plants use the energy of water to generate electricity. The energy is harnessed by passing water through a turbine. Under the pressure of the water, the turbine turns and transfers this energy to a generator, which converts kinetic energy into electricity. This principle applies to all types of hydroelectric power plants: from small run-of-river power plants to pumped-storage power plants on bodies of water like lakes. In many parts of the world, electricity is still primarily generated from fossil fuels. Clean hydropower can replace some of this emission-intensive energy and thus verifiably save carbon emissions. In most hydropower projects, the electricity is fed into a regional power grid, diversifying the energy supply and improving energy security in areas affected by power shortages and blackouts. Often, these projects also create jobs for the local population. Hydropower projects thus make an important contribution to clean energy supply as well as contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Hydopower projects in the ClimatePartner portfolio are registered with international standards.
