Brazil’s energy demand will triple by 2050, according to energy research officials. Alone, the country will have levels of energy consumption comparable to those of the entire European Union. And that is why Brazil is rushing to change its energy mix and privilege alternative energy sources. Over the past few years, Brazil has gone from a country with an energy mix almost exclusively based on hydroelectric dams, to one that relies more heavily on alternative sources, such as wind and solar power. The latter has the biggest potential for growth, as solar panels can provide energy not only to companies but also to households. The Brazilian Report has met with David Tsai, a chemical engineer and coordinator at the Institute of Energy and the Environment, about this energy transition in Brazil. Our podcast is also available on SoundCloud and Apple Podcasts.

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On this podcast

Gustavo Ribeiro has extensive experience covering Brazilian politics. His work has been featured across Brazilian and French media outlets, including Veja, Época, Folha de São Paulo, Médiapart and Radio France Internationale. He is the recipient of multiple awards, including the Abril Prize for outstanding political journalism. He holds a master’s degree in Political Science and Latin American studies from Panthéon-Sorbonne University in Paris. David Tsai has a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of São Paulo’s Polytechnic School. He has worked with alternative energy sources at the Institute of Energy and the Environment since 2007, where his main activities involve inventories and emissions modeling. This podcast was produced by Maria Martha Bruno. She is a journalist with 14 years of experience in politics, arts, and breaking news. She has collaborated with Al Jazeera, NBC, and CNN, among others, and worked as an international correspondent in Buenos Aires. Do you have a suggestion for our next Explaining Brazil podcast? Drop us a line at [email protected] Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter and Facebook.