A energia elétrica como instrumento de desenvolvimento humano e o desafio ao plano nacional de energia brasileiro

Abstract

This work studies the correlation between the per capita use of electrical energy and the Human Development Index (HDI). The main research objective is to evaluate the compatibility between the Brazilian National Energy Plan’s (PNE) goals, regarding the use of electrical energy, and the challenge of increasing the national HDI towards the “very high” level – the highest one according to the current United Nations terminology. As for the method, the research is, regarding its objectives, predominantly descriptive, and quanti-qualitative in relation to the problem studied. Several statistical aspects correlated to electrical energy and HDI were statistically treated, in such a way as to define significant, universal patterns of this correlation, which seem to be possible to predict through a mathematical formula that would then make it possible to evaluate human development using electrical energy as a parameter. It was noted that the proportion of electrical energy is increasingly bigger in relation to the total amount of primary energy, something explained by the absolute indispensability, through versatility and availability, of the former, and an objective minimum per capita value of electrical energy use – in this case, 222 kwh –, weighted as a function of energy intensity, was defined as necessary to reach a “very high” HDI. Besides it, two formulae were developed, both capable of individually estimate an entity’s HDI from the weighted value of electrical energy use. The first of them is more descriptively versatile, by using a logarithmic equation, while the second one is a simplified version, based on a potency function. Both formulae are capable of helping, yet in a preliminary cognition, to understand the energetic situation of the entity under analysis, possibly serving as decision support for energy policies aiming at human development. The logarithmic formula was checked globally and historically for accuracy, and after that it was used to verify how compatible are the Brazilian Energy Plan and a “very high” HDI, on the medium term and on the framework of the Brazilian states. It was concluded that, regarding this general objective, the historical evolution of national electrical energy supply and demand is compatible with the PNE projected numbers, which, on their turn, are compatible with a “very high” HDI – to reach such a level would require about 720 TWh per year, while the PNE forecasts, to 2030, 971 TWh, and the historical evolution of the last two decades indicates, for the same year, approximately 830 TWh. The possible attainment of this HDI level, however, should be put into perspective, because it probably would not be enough to avoid the catching-up situation Brazil is currently facing in relation to developed countries.