FROM CASHEW TO WIND POWER: HOW ELECTRICITY GENERATION IN SERRA DO MEL – RN REINFORCES ENERGY INJUSTICE?

Resumo

The municipality of Serra do Mel, in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, has stood out on the national stage for the expansion of wind energy sources. However, as in other regions of Brazil, reports of energy injustices have emerged, persisting even amid the transition to renewable sources. Based on primary data provided by the Brazilian Electricity Regulatory Agency (Aneel), this study investigates the destination of the electricity generated in the municipality, aiming to identify which contracting environment this production is being directed to. The results indicate that the majority of the energy generated is allocated to the Free Contracting Environment (ACL), although a smaller portion is directed to the Regulated Contracting Environment (ACR). The analysis is grounded in the understanding that the main beneficiaries of renewable energy in the country have been large consumers, who, paradoxically, pay lower rates than the populations living directly with the impacts of these developments—a scenario that reflects the reproduction of patterns typical of energy injustice.