Consumption of electric power grows 4,8% until May

The consumption of electric power grew 0.2% year over year in May, 1.1% when correcting for the effects of temperature and number of working days. The accumulated variation in the period of January to May is now 4.8%, still very influenced by the low temperatures observed in recent months.

This month, the inflows to hydroelectric dams were practically in line with the average conditions, with a hydrological index of 0.99 (historical average of 1). Conditions were also unfavourable in wind generation, with the corresponding capability index standing at 0.79 (historical average of 1). Total renewable production supplied 51% of the national consumption, non-renewable supplied 47% and the balance of foreign trade, which favoured imports this month, supplied the remaining 2%.

After the first five months of the year, the hydroelectric and wind capability indices recorded, respectively, 1.12 (historical average of 1) and 1.10 (historical average of 1), enabling renewable production to supply 63% of the consumption, plus the exporting balance, with hydroelectric power accounting for 29%, wind power for 28%, biomass for 5% and photovoltaic for 1%. Non-renewable power plants supplied the remaining 37% of consumption, broken down between natural gas with 21% and coal with 16%. In this period, the foreign trade balance favoured exports, amounting to around 5% of the domestic consumption.

Gas consumption for electric power production recorded a year-over-year decrease of 43% in May whereas, to the contrary, in the conventional segment a robust growth of approximately 8% was maintained. In the period from January to May, the consumption of natural gas presents an accumulated negative variation of 9% year over year, stemming from a growth of 4% in the conventional segment and from a reduction of 34% in the electricity market.