News and Information

　　Who is the most stressed during the World Cup? Players, coaches, fans, bettors—and perhaps even employees of power companies around the globe. Take Brazil, the host nation of this tournament, as an example: in the past, the country was the envy of the world for its high share of green, hydropower-generated electricity. Yet in recent years, prolonged droughts and water shortages have led to power shortages, while the sharp surge in electricity demand during the World Cup has prompted all sectors to re-examine the country’s energy mix.

　　Drought and Water Shortages Lead to Power Shortages in Brazil

　　Even before the World Cup kicked off, the Ghanaian media could no longer sit idly by. In articles laced with both envy and criticism, they declared: “Whether Brazil is ready or not, the World Cup is about to begin—but these eight points alone are enough to show that holding this tournament in Brazil was a mistake!” The Ghanaian press cited numerous shortcomings in infrastructure development and support, including airports and the metro system, with power supply being one of the most pressing issues. They pointed out that as early as February this year, Brazil experienced a massive blackout that left 6 million residents in 13 states without electricity. Although the newly built stadiums for the World Cup are equipped with backup generators, neither local residents nor visiting foreign fans have access to reliable power.

　　It’s not just the Ghanaian media that is scoffing—Brazilian media at home are equally on edge. Rosenblatt, an energy-sector consultant in Rio de Janeiro, believes that “Brazil is very likely to experience a major blackout during the World Cup.” While the government’s energy authorities maintain that the February blackout was not caused by grid overload, the media contend that the extreme heat at the time placed an excessive load on air-conditioning systems, which was the primary cause of the outage.

　　Regulatory authorities have recommended power rationing, with electricity consumption to be reduced by 5% to 6%, in order to prevent reservoir levels from falling below one-tenth of their capacity. However, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff has chosen not to adopt this recommendation, as the media believes it would directly result in voters withholding their support in the October election.

　　Brazil is rich in hydropower resources, with hydropower once accounting for more than 70% of its total electricity generation. However, in recent years, prolonged droughts and low water levels have reduced reservoir storage to less than 40% of capacity. This over-reliance on hydropower with limited regulation flexibility has led to the current power shortage in Brazil.

　　Energy industry consultant Rosenblatt believes: “If the drought persists, we expect Brazil’s reservoir storage levels to fall below the 10% alert threshold before November.”

　　Electricity use in urban villages is rife with rampant theft, leakage, and waste.

　　Another issue threatening Brazil’s electricity supply during the World Cup is high transmission and distribution losses. According to figures released last year by Rio de Janeiro’s Light Power Company, the company incurred losses of 1.5 billion reais (approximately 4.2 billion yuan) in the previous year due to electricity theft and other forms of leakage and wastage; nationwide, Brazil’s annual losses from such issues approach 8 billion reais (about 22 billion yuan).

　　According to data from Rio de Janeiro’s Light Electric Company, in the densely populated Rocinha neighborhood—the city’s largest favela—illegally tapped electricity accounts for as much as 70% of the area’s total power consumption. Maria, a grocery-store owner in the neighborhood, admitted: “These days everyone uses air conditioning, and many people steal electricity from the grid. I’d gladly pay my bills through the meter and use electricity legally, but the utility company’s service coverage simply doesn’t reach this area.”

　　Precisely to declare war on high line losses, power utilities in several major Brazilian cities, including São Paulo, have begun investing in the replacement of conventional meters with smart meters that enable remote meter reading. São Paulo was the first city to undertake large-scale smart-meter replacements, as its distribution utility has long struggled with electricity theft: “Over the past eight years, the revenue lost to theft has amounted to 3.8% of our company’s current market capitalization.”

　　On-Site at the Soccer Match: Solar Power Boosts Electricity Generation

　　To address the power shortages caused by drought, Brazil is also actively advancing the development of new energy projects, including photovoltaic and wind power.

　　According to Brazilian media, during the World Cup several stadiums will harness solar power to generate 5.4 megawatts of electricity, with the National Stadium in Brasília—hosting a quarter-final match—accounting for more than 2.5 megawatts of that output. The Brazilian government has stated that this edition of the World Cup will place a strong emphasis on renewable energy, partnering with leading global photovoltaic companies to promote low-carbon, environmentally friendly energy practices worldwide.

　　According to reports, solar power will supply 1.4 megawatts of electricity to the Mineirão Stadium in Belo Horizonte; provide more than 1 gigawatt of power to the Arena Pernambuco in Recife; and fully power the lighting system—rated at 500 kilowatts—at the iconic Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, with all electricity coming from solar sources. Over the past two years, the large-scale infrastructure projects undertaken in preparation for the World Cup have also sparked a boom in Brazil’s photovoltaic sector, resulting in over 70 megawatts of new PV capacity added within that timeframe.

　　Our reporter, Guan Fei, and intern, Chen Tianqiao

　　■Further Reading

　　Overview of Brazil’s Electricity Sector

　　Brazil has the largest electricity market in South America, with installed capacity comparable to that of Italy and the United Kingdom. The country also boasts the world’s largest hydropower storage capacity and is highly dependent on hydroelectric generation.

　　Brazil’s power grid is primarily interconnected through the National Interconnected System (SIN), which encompasses power utilities in the South, Southeast, Central-West, Northeast, and North regions. Only about 3.4% of electricity generation is located in isolated grid systems, mainly in the Amazon region.

　　Brazil’s power generation is predominantly hydroelectric, accounting for 77% of its total installed capacity. Approximately 88% of the electricity fed into the national grid comes from hydropower. The country’s largest facility, the Itaipu Dam, has a generating capacity of 14 gigawatts.

　　■ Lessons from Other Mountains

　　Countries Rush to Ensure Power Supply

　　UK: World Cup Load Higher Than Royal Wedding

　　National Grid UK recently stated that it will ensure an adequate electricity supply during the World Cup to cope with the peak load resulting from large numbers of fans watching the matches simultaneously. The UK’s Energy Secretary emphasized: “Even if England reach the final of the Brazil World Cup, the country’s power supply will still be fully secured.” In addition, the Department for Energy and Climate Change revealed that the broadcast schedule for the World Cup overlaps with the evening peak period for electricity consumption, and that the expected electricity demand during the final is likely to exceed the levels recorded during the broadcast of the Royal Wedding.

　　India: Government Takes the Lead in Power Restrictions to Ensure People Can Watch the Matches

　　The 2012 blackout of India’s power grid remains vivid in people’s memories. On June 9, temperatures in New Delhi, the Indian capital, soared to 47°C, further straining the power supply.

　　To prevent large-scale power outages from recurring during the World Cup, the New Delhi government has implemented a series of measures to ensure reliable electricity supply. The local authorities have announced that major shopping malls will close at 10 p.m. each night during the tournament to ease the strain on the power grid. Government administrative offices will also lead by example, implementing a one-hour daily power cut to further alleviate pressure on the system; meanwhile, street lighting will be dimmed in the evenings to conserve energy.

　　Ghana: Neighboring Countries “Borrow” Electricity Just to Watch the Matches

　　Ghanaian media report that the Ghana Electricity Company will implement emergency power measures during the World Cup to ensure a stable electricity supply throughout the tournament. During broadcasts of Ghana’s matches, 50 megawatts of power will be imported from neighboring Côte d’Ivoire to maintain grid stability. Meanwhile, the Ghanaian government has coordinated with local manufacturing firms to schedule reductions in operations at several large factories during Ghana’s matches, thereby safeguarding the country’s power supply for the duration of the World Cup. (Guan Fei, Chen Tianqiao)