Eletrobras
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Water Resources

Water is an essential natural resource for maintaining life on the planet. Fundamental activities in our daily lives depend on water, which is also an input for the functioning of industry, food production and energy generation. 

Eletrobras stands out for its renewable matrix of predominantly water sources, making this a fundamental and strategic resource for the company, so that contributing to the protection of this resource means investing in the longevity of our activities.​​

Efficient and integrated management, based on the rational and sustainable use of water, is in the guidelines of Environmental Policies (Environmental Policy of Eletrobras Companies) and Water Resources (Water Resources Policy) of Eletrobras. We are aligned with SDG 6 – Drinking water and basic sanitation – which aims to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.


How Eletrobras monitors and manages water ​
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Eletrobras monitors indicators related to water withdrawal, discharge, and consumption in administrative and operational activities through a corporate sustainability management indicator system, the IGS, a tool that ensures traceability and reliability of the data provided. 

Values are entered based on records presented on utility bills or based on water meter readings. Water used in our hydroelectric plants is also reported in the system.​​

Water Quality Monitoring

Eletrobras carries out periodic monitoring of water quality in the watercourses of its hydroelectric projects in accordance with the parameters of Resolutions 357/2005 and 430/2011 of the National Environmental Council (CONAMA).​ 


GT Water

In 2024, a Working Group was established within the Socio-Environmental Commission to discuss strategic issues related to water management. The group promotes the integration of areas with responsibilities related to the topic and contributes to the improvement of sustainability indicators, market questionnaires, and rating assessments conducted by risk agencies.

Throughout 2025, the group led the update of Eletrobras' Water Resources Policy and developed initiatives aimed at assessing water stress.

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In 2024, Eletrobras launched the Ecoinfra Program, aiming to implement effective solutions for the efficient use of water, energy, and waste in its administrative facilities.

Learn more at Eco-efficiency.​​



Life Cycle Assessment

Eletrobras, in partnership with Cepel, developed a methodology aligned with the ISO 14046 standard, with the objective of adapting the best international Water Footprint practices to the reality of the technologies used in Brazil for energy generation and transmission.

As shown in the infographic below, the results indicate that wind and solar photovoltaic sources have the smallest water footprints.


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Business Commitment to Water Security

An initiative of the Brazilian Business Council for Sustainable Development (CEBDS), Eletrobras publicly discloses actions and projects related to these goals in a transparent manner, as a way to engage more Brazilian companies committed to water security. See the initiatives Eletrobras is part of on the Aquasfera platform here.


Global Compact

Eletrobras has also been a signatory to the Global Compact since 2006, a voluntary UN initiative that reaffirms our commitment to sustainability and corporate citizenship.

The Global Compact is an initiative that involves the participation of companies, unions, non-governmental organizations and other partners necessary to build a more inclusive and egalitarian global market.


Supplier Environmental Due Diligence

All new suppliers complete an online form with questions about their practices related to climate change, biodiversity, waste management, environmental legal requirements, and specific water resource issues such as water management, wastewater, water efficiency, and water footprint.


Water Risk Management

Integrated Risk Management at Eletrobras seeks to prevent events that negatively impact its strategic objectives, considering that hydropower is the main source of energy generation. Therefore, the most significant risk is hydrological, which consists of maintaining a systemic production level below the physical guarantee of the plants that make up the regulated energy market. This risk can materialize mainly due to water scarcity. Therefore, the company seeks to prevent this from materializing by renegotiating hydrological risk and implementing "Energy Hedge."


Water Stress

Eletrobras withdraws less than 0.5% of its water from areas in water stress. All water withdrawn in these regions is fully returned to the environment with water quality equivalent to its original state, without consumption. To classify project areas according to water stress, Eletrobras uses the methodology of ANA (National Water and Sanitation Agency), which provides data on the balance between water availability and demand for this resource by river basin.


Water, Climate and Biodiversity

Protecting water resources is essential to ensuring the sustainability of hydroelectric generation, since water provision is an essential ecosystem service, directly dependent on the conservation of biodiversity and the integrity of natural ecosystems.

In this context, maintaining vegetation cover and expanding forested areas are nature-based solutions that significantly contribute to improving water quality and availability. Furthermore, these actions promote atmospheric carbon sequestration, playing a strategic role in combating climate change.

Eletrobras recognizes this interdependence and acts in an integrated manner, participating in strategic forums and making commitments to water security, biodiversity preservation, and climate change mitigation and adaptation. In 2024, its goal of achieving net zero by 2030 was approved by the Science Based Targets Initiative.


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