The energy transition history of fuelwood replacement for liquefied petroleum gas in Brazilian households from 1920 to 2016

• Published in: Energy policy Vol. 123; pp. 41 - 52
• Main Authors: Coelho, Suani Teixeira, Sanches-Pereira, Alessandro, Tudeschini, Luís Gustavo, Goldemberg, José
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-12-2018; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Access; Affordability; Affordable energy; Biomass energy; Brazil; Cooking; Demand; Economic and social effects; Energy consumption; Energy demand; energy market; Energy policy; Energy poverties; Energy poverty; energy resource; Energy transition; Energy transitions; energy use; Energy utilization; Fuel consumption; Fuels; Fuelwood; Historical perspectives; Households; Intensive treatment; Intervention; Liquefied petroleum gas; Local government; LPG; Municipalities; Petroleum; Price regulations; Prices; Regulation; Residential energy; Subsidies; Supply & demand; Urban areas; Urban environments; Urbanization; Wood products; Brazil; Brazil; LPG; Affordable energy; Fuelwood; Energy transition; Energy poverty
• ISSN: 0301-4215; 1873-6777; 1873-6777
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2018.08.041

In Brazil, there are almost ten million people relying on traditional use of biomass for cooking, which correspond to about five percent of the country's population. The vast majority lives in poor municipalities away from urban centers. The replacement of fuelwood for LPG is the result of an intense urbanization process and governmental intervention based on price regulation and subsidies. In 2015, the energy demand for cooking in the Brazilian households was 46 TJ, LPG covered 51% of the demand and the remaining 49% relied on fuelwood to supply the demand for energy. This study shows that there are enormous variations in the level of consumption and the types of fuels used due to the regional complexity of Brazil. In addition, it also shows the transition from fuelwood for cooking to modern fuels such as LPG does follow a consistent pattern in Brazil. Decisions related to energy consumption and fuel type are strongly influenced by accessibility, affordability and the convenience of the fuel.
•In Brazil there are about 10 million people relying on fuelwood for cooking.•The transition from fuelwood to LPG in Brazil followed a consistent pattern.•Households do not substitute one fuel for another but begin by using multiple fuels.•Energy transition was the result of urbanization and strong socioeconomic policies.•Affordability is the key parameter to understand cooking fuel consumption in Brazil.