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Orientador : Prof. Dr. Anselmo Chaves Neto ; Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Federal do Paraná, Setor de Ciências Agrárias, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia Florestal. Defesa: Curitiba, 08/08/2014 ; Inclui referências ; Área de concentração : Economia e Política Florestal ; Resumo:O babaçu tem participação relevante na economia maranhense. Apesar de o babaçu ser uma oleaginosa com grande potencial para produção de biocombustível, seu principal produto, o óleo, está direcionado para o segmento da indústria de higiene, limpeza e cosméticos. Um combustível economicamente viável, ambientalmente correto e socialmente inclusivo ainda demanda novas pesquisas. No presente estudo analisou-se a produção de biodiesel de babaçu fazendo uma pesquisa conceitual e histórica da indústria do babaçu e da produção do biodiesel gerando uma análise exergoeconômica do seu processo de produção a partir da biomassa do babaçu. Estabeleceu-se uma relação entre a análise exergética e a análise econômica na produção do biodiesel de babaçu, contabilizando as ineficiências e perdas que podem acontecer nesse sistema. Também, buscou-se identificar as melhorias necessárias para otimizar a produção através de ensaios realizados em laboratório. O custo real da produção de biodiesel de babaçu foi determinado a partir do detalhamento do processo de transesterificação realizado através de duas rotas de produção de biodiesel, metílica e etílica. As diferenças foram comparadas considerando as eficiências e custos de cada processo. Observou-se que a eficiência exergética da planta de produção de biodiesel de babaçu usando metanol é maior que da eficiência usando etanol (89%, 71%). O biodiesel obtido por via etílica gera um valor de exergia útil menor do que por via metílica, o que pode ser devido a temperatura e o tempo usados no processo. Ao considerar, no entanto, a glicerina como produto útil, a eficiência do balanço exergético usando metanol passa para 96% e usando etanol vai para 81%. O fator exergoeconômico do processo de obtenção de ...

The building of energy infrastructure has the main objective of promoting economic development based on the production and consumption of goods and services. In Brazil, the main generator of electricity is the Itaipu hydroenergy plant, which is binational and uses the transboundary waters of the Parana River in the boundary between Brazil and Paraguay. In a context of high energy demand, the discourses about transboundary waters are marked by debates on sovereignty and securitization in the face of vulnerability, these discourses focus on relations of tension and conflict over strategic water resources between states. This paper examines the use of transboundary water for energy production in Brazil and the limits of the discourse of regional development among the riparian states in the negotiations on the Itaipu Treaty during the government of former President Inacio Lula da Silva (2003-2010).

This research investigated the use of exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) process to recover part of the thermal and chemical energy left in the exhaust boiler stream. A theoretical analysis of energy conversion and use was performed based on a small boiler, in which were performed several measurements and analysis of the operation reports, which provided the boundary conditions and relevant information for modelling the processes. The methodology considered the radiation from exhaust gases, thermodynamics balances, and economic engineering calculations for the energy recovery analysis. Financial results indicate that the exhaust gas recirculation process implementation, regarding 20% of EGR ratio, presented 69% and 1.45 years of internal returning rate and payback, respectively. However, the regenerative process presented internal returning rate and payback values of 112% and 0.9 years. Indeed, both process might be applied, in order to increase the efficiency and reduce the emissions. In this way, the implementation of the exhaust gas recirculation process can contribute to the development of more economical practices in the industry, while promoting the reduction of operating costs and improving boiler efficiency.

O presente artigo explora o papel da produção de biocombustíveis para o desenvolvimento local endógeno. A análise foi realizada na Região do Vale do Rio Pardo (RS), tradicional produtora de tabaco que concentra as principais multinacionais do setor e possui alta dependência em relação ao produto. O recrudescimento das campanhas antitabagistas e a criação de legislações mais rigorosas serviram de alerta à região para os riscos da dependência em relação à cadeia produtiva do tabaco. Atualmente, são desenvolvidos localmente dois projetos baseados na produção de biocombustíveis que buscam o desenvolvimento local sustentável, aproveitando as potencialidades da região. A metodologia de pesquisa utilizada caracteriza-se como uma abordagem qualitativa, e a coleta de dados foi realizada através de entrevistas em profundidade com os atores envolvidos nos projetos em desenvolvimento. O estudo revela que os projetos podem gerar importantes complementos de renda para os agricultores familiares da região, apesar do envolvimento histórico com o tabaco e a alta renda que o produto gera atualmente. Os projetos de produção de biocombustíveis foram adaptados à realidade local e não buscam substituir a produção de tabaco enquanto esta for rentável, mas oferecer renda complementar e capaz de estimular a diversificação produtiva.---------------------------------------------------The present paper explores the role of biofuels production for endogenous local development. The analysis was accomplished in the Vale do Rio Pardo Region, located in Rio Grande do Sul State. As a traditional tobacco producer, the region concentrates the most important multinational tobacco companies and is highly dependent on this product. The worsening of anti-tobacco campaigns and the intent to create laws more rigorous to the sector has alerted the region to the risks of high dependence on tobacco productive chain. Nowadays, in Vale do Rio Pardo Region, two projects based on biofuels are being developed, seeking a local sustainable development construct by regional potentialities. The article’s research methodology is characterized as a qualitative approach, and the data have been collected through in-depth interviews with the actors involved in the ongoing projects. The study highlights that these projects can generate important income complements for the family farmers, even with the historical involvement with tobacco production and the high incomes currently generated by this product. The biofuels projects have been adapted to local reality and do not aim to substitute tobacco production, while this is profitable. However, the projects can offer complemental incomes and stimulate productive diversification.

The projection of energy demand has been one of the most used tools in the area of energy planning, assisting in decision making related to energy policies. Therefore, this study had as main objective to apply the Principal Component Analysis (ACP) technique “Principal Component Analysis” (PCA), to evaluate the factors that most influence the residential demand for electricity and from the determined main components, perform the forecast for residential electricity demand for the year 2030. For this purpose, we used data from variables that influence residential energy demand on the website of the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). The following variables were considered: Number of inhabitants, Income per capita, GDP per capita, Exchange Rate, Unemployment Rate, and Fertility Rate. Residential demand is also influenced by factors such as the price of electricity, the price of alternative energy, the rate of urbanization, the rate of access to electricity, however, these data are not available at year intervals that were considered for analysis. Principal component analysis (CP) was started by standardizing all variables in order to ensure that all of them have the same weight in the analysis, to have a zero mean and variance equal to one. After standardizing the variables, he performed the main component analysis to identify the variables with the greatest influence on residential energy consumption. Having defined the main components, it was possible to forecast demand for the year 2030 through multiple linear regression analysis using the least squares method. As a result, it was found that the proportion of contribution from the accumulated variation of the first three main components is 92.9%, that is, it reflects most of the information on demand for residential consumption. Only the main component one (CP1) already presents greater variability of the data (about 62.1%). Thus, in order to forecast residential electricity demand in Brazil, only the first two main components were considered, which are represented by income per capita, GDP per capita, exchange rate and number of inhabitants, these factors contribute with more explanatory variables. Another four main components were discarded, since they assume a very small proportion of the data variability (close to zero), therefore, it is estimated that they do not have as much influence. Thus, residential demand is a function of socioeconomic development and the Brazilian population growth. Using the least squares method, it was possible to forecast residential electricity consumption from 2019 until the year 2030. In this time interval there was a significant increase in residential consumption from 141258.7 MWh to 177076.5 MWh. This increase can be explained by population growth, socioeconomic development, the process of universal electric power, climatic conditions and greater availability of income for the acquisition of electrical equipment, especially air conditioning equipment. On the other hand, it was found that the growth in residential consumption has been decreasing in recent years and the forecast is that in the coming years this growth will average 2% per year.

The objective was to evaluate the physical and energetic characteristics of pellets produced with different lignocellulosic biomasses for bioenergy generation. Moisture and bulk density were determined for biomass and pellets. In addition, for pellets mechanical durability, fines content, diametric compression, diameter, length and unit density were measured. There was an increase in bulk density and a reduction in the moisture content of the fuels produced compared to fresh biomass. The highest averages of mechanical durability were obtained by pellets produced with biomass mixtures. Diameter compression ranged from 0.52 to 5.96 MPa for commercial pellet and 100% elephant grass, respectively. Pellets produced with 100% sugarcane bagasse showed low diametral compression. Regarding the percentage of fines, it is observed that the pellets produced with biomass mixtures presented the lowest averages when compared to those produced with only one biomass. It is observed that the pellets produced with more than one biomass in its composition had the smallest diameters and the average pellet length ranged from 12.87 to 17.85 mm. Unit apparent density ranged from 1,105 (EC50 BC50) to 1,265 kg m-3 (EC50 E50). The pellets produced with lignocellulosic biomass compositions had better performances when compared to those produced with only one biomass.

The aim of this paper was to analyze the characteristics of the transactions between economic agents to identify their attributes and to determine their impacts on the governance structure of the forest biomass energy production chain in Lages, Santa Catarina state. The Economic Transaction Cost (ETC) was used as theoretical support. Fifteen entrepreneurs or company directors were interviewed to identify and characterize the transactions between the chain’s segments and to analyze the governance structure adopted by the agents. The companies involved in this study are located in twenty four municipal districts in the region. Analysis of the transactions between the agents demonstrated an increasing search for contracts, determined mainly by the need to guarantee the supply of raw material. This governance structure tends to be increasingly adopted by different segments of the production chain, especially in transactions involving residues, either for energy generation or other more noble uses.

O Programa Nacional de Produção e Uso do Biodiesel (PNPB) abrange as esferas ambiental, social e econômica, incentivando a participação de empresas no mercado de Biocombustíveis. A Petrobras Biocombustível, uma subsidiária da Petrobras, se insere neste mercado e estabelece relações com diversos stakeholders na cadeia de suprimento. A pesquisa de natureza qualitativa foi conduzida por meio de entrevistas com o Gerente Geral e o Gerente Setorial de Suprimento da Usina de Biodiesel de Quixadá, instalada no Estado do Ceará. O trabalho analisa as premissas que levaram a atuação da Petrobras neste mercado, a representação da cadeia de suprimentos, as ações para integrar a Usina de Quixadá com os agricultores familiares, e os desafios do PNPB. Os resultados mostram que a cadeia de suprimentos não está estruturada e que a Petrobras enfrenta dificuldades logísticas, organizacionais e tecnológicas para viabilizar a produção de biodiesel no Semiárido nordestino. ----- The National Program for Production and Use of Biodiesel (PNPB) involves environmental, social and economic dimensions. It has set incentives to encourage firms and producers to participate in this increasing market. Petrobras Biofuels, a subsidiary of Petrobras, produces biodiesel and has established relationships with various stakeholders, including those in the supply chain. In particular, the paper looks at the production of the plant in Quixada, Ceará State, and its supply chain in the semi-arid Northeast of Brazil. The research was qualitative and conducted through interviews with the General Manager and the Sector Supply Manager of the Quixadá plant. The paper analyses the basic assumptions underlying Petrobras operations in this market; the supply chain structure; actions taken to link Quixadá Biodiesel Plant with family farmers; and the challenges posed by PNPB in the development of the biodiesel market. The results show that the supply chain lacks structure and the company is facing challenges in logistic, technological and organizational areas.

A grande necessidade de diminuir a dependência em relação ao petróleo devido aos seus preços em constante elevação, a preocupação com o meio ambiente (protocolo de kyoto) e a crescente demanda por carros flex tem colocado o etanol - uma energia totalmente renovável - em papel de destaque, como fonte alternativa de energia. A demanda e a oferta por este biocombustível são crescentes nos últimos anos e com grande possibilidade de se manter forte e dinâmica por vários anos. Neste contexto, o estudo teve como objetivo analisar quais as variáveis que afetaram a oferta e a demanda de etanol no Brasil, no período de 1995 a 2006. O método de análise utilizado foi o modelo de equilíbrio simultâneo por meio de mínimos quadrados em dois estágios, com correção de variância via métodos de momentos generalizados (GMM). Para ilustrar o uso do modelo em simulações de políticas, investiga-se o efeito de um aumento relativo no preço do petróleo no mercado do etanol, ceteris paribus. Os resultados do modelo foram significativos, mas o interessante é que o álcool não se mostrou substituto perfeito da gasolina no período analisado, pois o seu papel fundamental foi de aditivo da gasolina. ----------------------------------------------The great necessity for reducing the dependency upon oil due to its price, which is constantly increasing, the concern about the environment (Kyoto Protocol) and the increasing demand for flex cars have highlighted the role of ethanol - a totally renewable source of energy. The supply and demand for this biofuel are increasing in the past years and with a great chance to keep strong and dynamic for many years. In this context, the objective of the study was to analyse which variables affected the supply and demand for ethanol in Brazil, considering the period from 1995 to 2006. The method of analysis used was a simultaneous equilibrium model by means of two stages, least squares with correction of the variance by the generalized method of moments (GMM). To illustrate the use of the model in policy simulation it is studied the effect of a relative increase in oil price in the market of ethanol, ceteris paribus. The results of the model were significant, but what is interesting is that the alcohol did not appear to be a perfect substitutive for gasoline in the mentioned period, since his fundamental role was of an additive of gasoline.