REGULATORY INCENTIVES TO PROMOTE THE USE OF PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS IN BRAZIL

Abstract

The use of photovoltaic solar energy for electricity generation has been even more considered in many countries worldwide as an excellent alternative to reduce the man-made environmental impacts, especially those associated with climate changes. In countries such as Japan, Germany, USA and other European countries, specific regulatory mechanisms have been developed to stimulate its use either through governmental programs or financial and/or tax incentives. The main common reasons on these programs are the diversification of energy sources traditionally used, namely the need to adopt a sustainable energy model, the encouragement of the photovoltaic equipment industry, an affordable technology, and a concern with the environment, mainly to the reduction of CO2 emissions. In the Brazilian case, despite the large solar resource potential, many things still need to be done and, since then only a small number of initiatives were undertaken to encourage solar photovoltaic energy, but still very small when compared to the countries mentioned above. In this sense, this paper has the purpose of presenting the evolution of the regulatory incentives concerned to the use of photovoltaic solar energy in Brazil over the years.