Editing South America (section)

===Energy===
Due to the diversity of [[topography]] and pluviometric precipitation conditions, the region's water resources vary enormously in different areas. In the [[Andes]], navigation possibilities are limited, except for the Magdalena River, [[Lake Titicaca]] and the lakes of the southern regions of Chile and Argentina. Irrigation is an important factor for agriculture from northwestern Peru to Patagonia. Less than 10% of the known electrical potential of the Andes had been used until the mid-1960s.

The [[Brazilian Highlands]] have a much higher hydroelectric potential than the [[Andes|Andean region]]{{Citation needed|date=September 2022}} and its possibilities of exploitation are greater due to the existence of several large rivers with high margins and the occurrence of great differences forming huge cataracts, such as those of Paulo Afonso, Iguaçu and others. The [[Amazon River]] system has about {{convert|13,000|km|mi|abbr=on}} of waterways, but its possibilities for [[hydroelectric power]] use are still unknown.

Most of the continent's energy is generated through [[hydroelectric power plants]], but there is also an important share of [[thermoelectric]] and [[wind energy]]. Brazil and Argentina are the only South American countries that generate [[nuclear power]], each with two [[nuclear power plants]]. In 1991 these countries signed a peaceful nuclear cooperation agreement.

{{wide image|Itaipu Décembre 2007 - Vue Générale.jpg|1500px|Panoramic view of the [[Itaipu Dam]], the second largest of the world in energy production}}
[[File:Energia Eolica.jpg|thumb|right|[[Wind power]] in [[Parnaíba]]]]
[[File:Angra dos Reis - usinas nucleares.jpg|thumb|[[Angra Nuclear Power Plant]] in [[Angra dos Reis]], Rio de Janeiro]]
[[File:Usina solar de Pirapora 2.gif|thumb|[[Pirapora Solar Complex]], the largest in Brazil and Latin America with a capacity of 321 MW]]
The Brazilian government has undertaken an ambitious program to reduce dependence on imported petroleum. Imports previously accounted for more than 70% of the country's oil needs but Brazil became self-sufficient in oil in 2006–2007. Brazil was the 10th largest oil producer in the world in 2019, with 2.8 million barrels/day. Production manages to supply the country's demand.<ref name="auto3"/> In the beginning of 2020, in the production of [[petroleum|oil]] and natural gas, the country exceeded 4 million barrels of oil equivalent per day, for the first time. In January this year, 3.168 million barrels of oil per day and 138.753 million cubic meters of natural gas were extracted.<ref name="auto2"/>

Brazil is one of the main world producers of [[hydroelectric power]]. In 2019, Brazil had 217 hydroelectric plants in operation, with an installed capacity of 98,581 MW, that constitutes 60.16% of the country's energy generation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cbie.com.br/artigos/quantas-usinas-geradoras-de-energia-temos-no-brasil/|title=How many power plants do we have in Brazil?|date=5 April 2019|access-date=4 December 2020|archive-date=31 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031005818/https://cbie.com.br/artigos/quantas-usinas-geradoras-de-energia-temos-no-brasil/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2019 Brazil reached a total of 170,000 megawatts of installed power generation capacity, of which more than 75% are from renewable sources (the majority, hydroelectric).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aneel.gov.br/sala-de-imprensa-exibicao/-/asset_publisher/XGPXSqdMFHrE/content/brasil-alcanca-170-mil-megawatts-de-capacidade-instalada-em-2019/656877?inheritRedirect=false|title=Brasil alcança 170 mil megawatts de capacidade instalada em 2019 – Sala de Imprensa – ANEEL|website=aneel.gov.br|access-date=4 December 2020|archive-date=13 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210413193140/https://www.aneel.gov.br/sala-de-imprensa-exibicao/-/asset_publisher/XGPXSqdMFHrE/content/brasil-alcanca-170-mil-megawatts-de-capacidade-instalada-em-2019/656877?inheritRedirect=false|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.energiaeambiente.org.br/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/IEMA-AGUA_vFinal.pdf|title=Uso de água em termoelétricas|date=1 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180401075849/http://www.energiaeambiente.org.br/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/IEMA-AGUA_vFinal.pdf|archive-date=1 April 2018|language=pt}}</ref>

In 2013, the [[Southeast Region, Brazil|Southeast Region]] used about 50% of the load of the National Integrated System (SIN), being the main energy consuming region in the country. The region's installed electricity generation capacity totaled almost 42,500 MW, which represented about a third of Brazil's generation capacity. Hydroelectric generation represented 58% of the region's installed capacity, with the remaining 42% coming mostly from thermoelectric generation. São Paulo accounted for 40% of this capacity; Minas Gerais for about 25%; Rio de Janeiro for 13.3%; and Espírito Santo accounted for the rest. The [[South Region, Brazil|South Region]] owns the [[Itaipu Dam]], which was the largest hydroelectric plant in the world for several years, until the inauguration of [[Three Gorges Dam]] in China. It remains the second largest operating hydroelectric power generation capacity in the world. Brazil is the co-owner of the Itaipu Plant with [[Paraguay]]: the dam is located on the [[Paraná River]], located on the border between countries. It has an installed generation capacity of 14 GW for 20 generating units of 700 MW each. [[North Region, Brazil|North Region]] has large hydroelectric plants, such as [[Belo Monte Dam]] and [[Tucuruí Dam]], which produce much of the national energy. Brazil's hydroelectric potential has not yet been fully exploited, so the country still has the capacity to build several renewable energy plants in its territory.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://web.bndes.gov.br/bib/jspui/bitstream/1408/4401/1/O%20BNDES%20e%20a%20quest%C3%A3o%20energ%C3%A9tica%20e%20logistica%20na%20Regi%C3%A3o%20Sudeste_5_P.pdf|title=O BNDES e a questão energética e logística da Região Sudeste|access-date=4 December 2020|archive-date=9 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200709090411/https://web.bndes.gov.br/bib/jspui/bitstream/1408/4401/1/O%20BNDES%20e%20a%20quest%c3%a3o%20energ%c3%a9tica%20e%20logistica%20na%20Regi%c3%a3o%20Sudeste_5_P.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/hybiggest.html|title=Power: World's biggest hydroelectric facility|date=19 May 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060519000659/http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/hybiggest.html|archive-date=19 May 2006}}</ref>

{{As of|2022|7|url=http://www.ons.org.br/paginas/conhecimento/acervo-digital/documentos-e-publicacoes|post=,}} according to ONS, total installed capacity of [[wind power]] was 22 GW, with average [[capacity factor]] of 58%.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ons.org.br/AcervoDigitalDocumentosEPublicacoes/Boletim%20Mensal%20de%20Gera%C3%A7%C3%A3o%20E%C3%B3lica%202021-02.pdf|title=Boletim Mensal de Geração Eólica Fevereiro/2021|language=pt|date=20 February 2021|publisher=Operador Nacional do Sistema Elétrico – ONS|pages=6, 14|access-date=7 April 2021|archive-date=10 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410221330/http://www.ons.org.br/AcervoDigitalDocumentosEPublicacoes/Boletim%20Mensal%20de%20Gera%C3%A7%C3%A3o%20E%C3%B3lica%202021-02.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://megawhat.energy/news/147158/eolica-supera-22-gw-em-operacao-no-brasil|title=Eólica supera 22 GW em operação no Brasil|date=21 July 2022|publisher=Megawhar|access-date=2 August 2022|language=pt-br}}</ref> While the world average wind production capacity factors is 24.7%, there are areas in Northern Brazil, specially in Bahia State, where some wind farms record average capacity factors of over 60%;<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.brasil.gov.br/noticias/infraestrutura/2014/12/brasil-e-o-pais-com-melhor-fator-de-aproveitamento-da-energia-eolica|title=Brasil é o país com melhor fator de aproveitamento da energia eólica|work=Governo do Brasil|access-date=7 October 2018|language=pt-BR|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181007223102/http://www.brasil.gov.br/noticias/infraestrutura/2014/12/brasil-e-o-pais-com-melhor-fator-de-aproveitamento-da-energia-eolica|archive-date=7 October 2018}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.capitalinvest-group.com/en/invest-in-brazil-ma-guide/|title=Invest in Brazil|date=23 August 2018|work=Capital Invest: Top M&A Financial Advisors in Brazil (Sao Paulo)|access-date=7 October 2018|archive-date=13 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210113040339/https://www.capitalinvest-group.com/en/invest-in-brazil-ma-guide/|url-status=live}}</ref> the average capacity factor in the [[Northeast Region, Brazil|Northeast Region]] is 45% in the coast and 49% in the interior.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.epe.gov.br/sites-pt/publicacoes-dados-abertos/publicacoes/PublicacoesArquivos/publicacao-233/topico-520/Boletim_2020_Q1.pdf|title=Boletim Trimestral de Energia Eólica – Junho de 2020|language=pt-BR|publisher=Empresa de Pesquisa Energética|date=23 June 2020|page=4|access-date=24 October 2020|archive-date=11 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210811053611/https://www.epe.gov.br/sites-pt/publicacoes-dados-abertos/publicacoes/PublicacoesArquivos/publicacao-233/topico-520/Boletim_2020_Q1.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2019, wind energy represented 9% of the energy generated in the country.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://cbie.com.br/artigos/quantas-usinas-geradoras-de-energia-temos-no-brasil/|title=Quantas usinas geradoras de energia temos no Brasil?|date=5 April 2019|access-date=4 December 2020|archive-date=31 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031005818/https://cbie.com.br/artigos/quantas-usinas-geradoras-de-energia-temos-no-brasil/|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2019, it was estimated that the country had an estimated wind power generation potential of around 522 GW (this, only onshore), enough energy to meet three times the country's current demand.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://revistapesquisa.fapesp.br/ventos-promissores-a-caminho/|title=Ventos promissores a caminho|website=revistapesquisa.fapesp.br|access-date=4 December 2020|archive-date=29 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129102108/https://revistapesquisa.fapesp.br/ventos-promissores-a-caminho/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www2.ctee.com.br/brazilwindpower/2016/zpublisher/materia/?url=potencial-eolico-onshore-brasileiro-pode-ser-de-880-gw-indica-estudo-20161026|title=Brazilian onshore wind potential could be 880 GW, study indicates|access-date=4 December 2020|archive-date=14 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814221022/http://www2.ctee.com.br/brazilwindpower/2016/zpublisher/materia/?url=potencial-eolico-onshore-brasileiro-pode-ser-de-880-gw-indica-estudo-20161026|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2021 Brazil ranked 7th in the world in terms of installed wind power capacity (21 GW),<ref name="RENEWABLE CAPACITY STATISTICS 2021">[https://www.irena.org/-/media/Files/IRENA/Agency/Publication/2021/Apr/IRENA_RE_Capacity_Statistics_2021.pdf Renewable Capacity Statistics 2021].</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irena.org/-/media/Files/IRENA/Agency/Publication/2022/Apr/IRENA_RE_Capacity_Statistics_2022.pdf|title=Global wind statistics|date=22 April 2022|website=IRENA|access-date=22 April 2022}}</ref> and the 4th largest producer of wind energy in the world (72 TWh), behind only China, United States and Germany.<ref>[[Hannah Ritchie]] and [[Max Roser]], [https://ourworldindata.org/renewable-energy Wind Power generation].</ref><ref name="auto5">{{Cite web|url=https://www.irena.org/-/media/Files/IRENA/Agency/Publication/2021/Apr/IRENA_RE_Capacity_Statistics_2021.pdf|title=Renewable Capacity Statistics 2021|access-date=23 April 2021|archive-date=24 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210824142125/https://www.irena.org/-/media/Files/IRENA/Agency/Publication/2021/Apr/IRENA_RE_Capacity_Statistics_2021.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

Nuclear energy accounts for about 4% of Brazil's electricity.<ref name=uic>{{cite web|publisher=Uranium Information Centre|url=http://www.uic.com.au/nip95.htm|title=Nuclear Power in Brazil. Briefing Paper # 95|date=May 2007|access-date=19 May 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070208105204/http://www.uic.com.au/nip95.htm|archive-date=8 February 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> The nuclear power generation monopoly is owned by [[Eletronuclear|Eletronuclear (Eletrobrás Eletronuclear S/A)]], a wholly owned subsidiary of [[Eletrobrás]]. Nuclear energy is produced by [[List of nuclear reactors#Brazil|two reactors]] at [[Angra Nuclear Power Plant|Angra]]. It is located at the Central Nuclear Almirante Álvaro Alberto (CNAAA) on the Praia de Itaorna in [[Angra dos Reis]], Rio de Janeiro. It consists of two [[pressurized water reactor]]s, Angra I, with capacity of 657 MW, connected to the power grid in 1982, and Angra II, with capacity of 1,350 MW, connected in 2000. A third reactor, Angra III, with a projected output of 1,350 MW, is planned to be finished.<ref name=merco>{{cite web|publisher=Mecropress|url=http://www.mercopress.com/Detalle.asp?NUM=9036|title=Brazil plans to build seven nuclear reactors|date=23 October 2006|access-date=19 May 2007|archive-date=19 February 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070219171559/http://www.mercopress.com/Detalle.asp?NUM=9036|url-status=dead}}</ref>

{{As of|2022|10|url=http://www.ons.org.br/paginas/conhecimento/acervo-digital/documentos-e-publicacoes|post=,}} according to ONS, total installed capacity of [[photovoltaic solar]] was 21 GW, with average [[capacity factor]] of 23%. Some of the most [[Solar irradiance|irradiated]] Brazilian States are MG ("Minas Gerais"), BA ("Bahia") and GO (Goiás), which have indeed world [[Solar irradiance|irradiation]] level records.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://sharenergy.com.br/quais-melhores-regioes-brasil-para-geracao-de-energia-fotovoltaica/|title=Quais as melhores regiões do Brasil para geração de energia fotovoltaica? – Sharenergy|date=3 February 2017|work=Sharenergy|access-date=7 October 2018|language=pt-BR|archive-date=7 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181007223213/http://sharenergy.com.br/quais-melhores-regioes-brasil-para-geracao-de-energia-fotovoltaica/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ons.org.br/AcervoDigitalDocumentosEPublicacoes/Boletim%20Mensal%20de%20Gera%C3%A7%C3%A3o%20Solar%202020-09.pdf|title=Boletim Mensal de Geração Solar Fotovoltaica Setembro/2020|language=pt|date=13 October 2020|publisher=Operador Nacional do Sistema Elétrico – ONS|pages=6, 13|access-date=21 October 2020|archive-date=2 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201102012240/http://www.ons.org.br/AcervoDigitalDocumentosEPublicacoes/Boletim%20Mensal%20de%20Gera%C3%A7%C3%A3o%20Solar%202020-09.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2019, solar power represented 1.27% of the energy generated in the country.<ref name="auto"/> In 2021, Brazil was the 14th country in the world in terms of installed solar power (13 GW),<ref>[https://www.irena.org/-/media/Files/IRENA/Agency/Publication/2022/Apr/IRENA_RE_Capacity_Statistics_2022.pdf Renewable Capacity Statistics 2022].</ref> and the 11th largest producer of solar energy in the world (16.8 TWh).<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://ourworldindata.org/renewable-energy|title=Renewable Energy|first1=Hannah|last1=Ritchie|first2=Max|last2=Roser|first3=Pablo|last3=Rosado|date=11 October 2023|journal=Our World in Data|via=ourworldindata.org}}</ref>

In 2020, Brazil was the 2nd largest country in the world in the production of energy through [[biomass]] (energy production from solid biofuels and renewable waste), with 15,2 GW installed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.irena.org/-/media/Files/IRENA/Agency/Publication/2021/Apr/IRENA_RE_Capacity_Statistics_2021.pdf|title=Renewable Capacity Statistics 2021|page=41|access-date=24 May 2021|archive-date=24 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210824142125/https://www.irena.org/-/media/Files/IRENA/Agency/Publication/2021/Apr/IRENA_RE_Capacity_Statistics_2021.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

After Brazil, [[Colombia]] is the country in South America that most stands out in energy production. In 2020, the country was the 20th largest petroleum producer in the world, and in 2015 it was the 19th largest exporter. In natural gas, the country was, in 2015, the 40th largest producer in the world. Colombia's biggest highlight is in coal, where the country was, in 2018, the world's 12th largest producer and the 5th largest exporter. In renewable energies, in 2020, the country ranked 45th in the world in terms of installed wind energy (0.5 GW), 76th in the world in terms of installed solar energy (0.1 GW) and 20th in the world in terms of installed hydroelectric power (12.6 GW).

[[Venezuela]], which was one of the world's largest oil producers (about 2.5 million barrels/day in 2015) and one of the largest exporters, due to its political problems, has had its production drastically reduced in recent years: in 2016, it dropped to 2.2 million, in 2017 to 2 million, in 2018 to 1.4 million and in 2019 to 877 thousand, reaching only 300,000 barrels/day at a given point. The country also stands out in hydroelectricity, where it was the 14th country in the world in terms of installed capacity in 2020 (16,5 GW).

[[Argentina]] was in 2017 the 18th largest producer of natural gas in the world, and the largest producer of natural gas in Latin America, in addition to being the 28th largest oil producer; although the country has the Vaca Muerta field, which holds close to 16 billion barrels of technically recoverable shale oil, which is the second largest natural shale gas deposit in the world, the country lacks the capacity to exploit the deposit: it lacks the necessary capital, technology and knowledge that can only come from offshore energy companies, who view Argentina and its erratic economic policies with considerable suspicion, not wanting to invest in the country. In renewable energies, in 2020, the country ranked 27th in the world in terms of installed wind energy (2.6 GW), 42nd in the world in terms of installed solar energy (0.7 GW) and 21st in the world in terms of installed hydroelectric power (11.3 GW). The country has great potential for the production of wind energy in the Patagonia region.

Chile, although currently not a major energy producer, has great future potential for solar energy production in the Atacama Desert region. [[Paraguay]] stands out today in hydroelectric production thanks to the Itaipu Power Plant. [[Bolivia]] stand out in the production of natural gas, where it was the 31st largest in the world in 2015. [[Ecuador]], because it consumes little energy, is part of OPEC and was the 27th largest oil producer in the world in 2020, being the 22nd largest exporter in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eia.gov/international/data/world/petroleum-and-other-liquids/annual-petroleum-and-other-liquids-production|title=International – U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)|website=eia.gov|access-date=4 December 2020|archive-date=27 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200627013533/https://www.eia.gov/international/data/world/petroleum-and-other-liquids/annual-petroleum-and-other-liquids-production|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.iea.org/publications/freepublications/publication/KeyWorld2014.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021020232/http://www.iea.org/publications/freepublications/publication/KeyWorld2014.pdf|title=IEA. Key World Energy Statistics 2014. Natural Gas.|archive-date=21 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2249rank.|title=html CIA. The World Factbook. Natural gas – production.}}{{Dead link|date=March 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name="auto5" />