Hydroelectricity in Brazil

Electricity generated in Brazil by converting the energy of flowing water, chiefly at dams. It has long supplied a large share of the country’s power, while exposing generation to rainfall and river conditions.

Hydroelectric power: Electricity produced by converting the energy of moving or falling water. The broader technology that Brazil’s dam-based generation relies on.
Itaipu Dam: A large hydroelectric dam on the Paraná River, jointly operated by Brazil and Paraguay. Itaipu is one of Brazil’s defining sources of hydroelectric generation.
Brazilian energy crisis of 2001–2002: A national electricity shortage caused in part by low reservoir levels and limited supply alternatives. The crisis exposed the risks of depending heavily on rainfall-sensitive hydroelectric generation.
Wind power in Brazil: Electricity generated by wind turbines at Brazilian wind farms. Wind power has grown as a complementary source less dependent on reservoir levels.
Hydroelectric dam: A dam that stores or diverts water to generate electricity. Brazilian plants use dams to regulate river flow and create hydraulic head.
Belo Monte Dam: A large hydroelectric complex on the Xingu River in Pará, Brazil. Belo Monte illustrates the scale and controversy of Amazon-region hydropower.
Drought in Brazil: Prolonged periods of unusually low rainfall affecting Brazilian regions and water systems. Drought reduces river inflows and reservoir storage, constraining hydroelectric output.
Solar power in Brazil: Electricity generated from sunlight by photovoltaic systems or solar thermal plants in Brazil. Solar generation diversifies supply, though its output varies by daylight and weather.
Francis turbine: A water turbine suited to medium-head sites, using both pressure and flow to rotate its runner. Francis turbines are widely used in large Brazilian hydroelectric plants.
Tucuruí Dam: A major hydroelectric dam on the Tocantins River in Pará, Brazil. Tucuruí supplies power from the north and helped develop the region’s electricity infrastructure.

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