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Eco-efficiency

In order to contribute to reducing the environmental impacts of their operations, Eletrobras Companies seek to continuously improve the environmental performance of their indicators and to expand eco-efficiency initiatives.

Check our results of water and electricity consumption and waste generation, monitored by our System of Indicators for Corporate Sustainability Management (IGS System):​​

Access the Annual Report to learn more about water management at Eletrobras Companies.


Data of the Holding – administrative activities

Features 2017** 2018** 2019 2020
Total water withdrawal from the supply network of the sanitation concessionaire (m3) 33,404 27,073 27,812 20,768
Electricity purchased from a concessionaire in the National Interconnected System (MWh) 5,553 5,571 5,836 4,285
Waste generated for composting (kg) *** - - 7,400 2,790
Waste sent for recycling – Solidary Selective Waste Collection (Federal Decree nr.  5,940/2006) (kg) 33,344 29,949 25,770 3,540

* Includes the office in Rio de Janeiro
** Source: Coordination of the Solidary Selective Waste Collection Program. For the other data, the source is the IGS System.


Consolidated data of Eletrobras Companies (G&T)

Water

The water consumption in the operations and administrative processes of Eletrobras Companies comes from surface water bodies or from underground sources, according to grants issued by the competent bodies or, in administrative buildings in urban areas, through public service concessionaires.

In hydroelectric plants, water is used to move the turbines and therefore does not integrate the total volume of water consumed. In 2020, the volume of water used by hydroelectric plants for this purpose reached 921,501,969.97 m³.

In 2020, Eletrobras Companies withdrew a total of 921,866,471.01 m3, including sea water. The total water consumed was 563.05 m3.

The quality of discharged water is constantly monitored to meet the standards established by environmental legislation. In the nuclear power plants, the sea water is used for cooling the secondary system and completely returned to the sea, with a small increase of temperature.

Water withdrawal – administrative activities

Water withdrawal per source

(in thousands of m3)

 2017 2018 2019 2020
Surface* 3,150.0* 3,146.8* 2,809.23* 865.58
Groundwater 205.8 459.4 219.86 227.99
Supply network 479.4 481.1 418.62 334.70
Total 3,835.1 4,087.3 3,448.26 1,428.64

* includes the water used in the fish farming stations of Eletrobras Furnas
Note: The Annual Report 2020 presents explanation notes about the water figures

Water withdrawal per source

(in thousands of m3)

 2017 2018 2019 2020
Surface 8,604.8 10,620.5 14,560.21 72,914.10
Supply network 0.1 0.2 0.14 -
Sea Water 3,376,102.0 3,291,309.1 3,783,580.00 3,290,158.28
Total 3,384,706.9 3,301,929.8 3,798,140.35 3,363,072.38


*values recalculated excluding the distribution companies


Energy Consumption (MWh)​

Energy consumption (MWh)

 

 2018 ​ ​ 2019 ​ ​ 2020 ​ ​
​ Scope 1 Scope 2 Scope 3 Scope1

 

Scope 2

 

 Scope 3 Scope 1 Scope 2 Scope 3
Renewable fuels consumption 170,140   23,109 40,546   2,396 11,111   5,396
Fossil fuels consumption 18,700,998   288,010 21,963,510   21,002 17,741,911   6,803,294
Electric energy consumption   1,622,850     1,677,351     804,616  
Total 24,053,425 ​ ​ 23,704,805 ​ ​ 25,366,328 ​ ​


Waste 

Waste (metric tonnes)**2017*201820192020
Total waste generated  8,589.1017,462.8123,104.3126,599.81
Total waste recycled/ reused/ sold2,799.812,957.904,124.688,171.64
Total waste disposed5,789.2914,504.9118,979.6318,428.17

*values recalculated without distribution companies
**the ashes of our thermoelectric plants are not included in these values
Note: The waste figures are not assured by third-party. 

 

Hazardous Waste (metric tonnes)2017*2018*20192020
Total2,570.197,459.454,563.164,026.65

*values recalculated without distribution companies
Note: The waste figures are not assured by third-party.

 

Ashes

All the ashes produced by the operation of coal-fired thermal power plants by Eletrobras CGTEE, located in Candiota (RS), are forwarded to the recomposition of mine cave when they are not sold to the cement industry. In 2020, about 917,000 tons of ash were generated. About 70% was sent for reuse and the rest for recycling by the cement industry.

Solid waste and effluents are treated by our companies in accordance with current legislation.

 

Mercury Emissions

Eletrobras CGTEletrosul carries out two annual measurements to verify the concentration of mercury in atmospheric emissions related to the operation of its coal-fired thermoelectric power plant. In 2020, the direct mercury emissions were 0,038 t.

The TPP Candiota III Overhaul, which provided for the processing of dry coal, a process called jigging, was completed in 2019.  The coal processing started in March 2020. The process improves the fuel quality and provides the reduction in consumption and, consequently, the reduction of emission of atmospheric pollutants and of operational costs, thus bringing efficiency gains.


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