Brazil's own energy path and the 2026 National Energy Balance

In an article dated 11 September 2026, "Brazil Does Not Need to Copy Someone Else's Energy Transition", Dr. Wang Zhiqiang argues that Brazil should build its energy architecture around its own resources rather than reproduce European, Middle Eastern or Chinese models. He proposes combining renewable electricity, storage, hydrogen and local bioenergy according to the industrial application, and points to mining as the clearest case.

Public data support the starting point. According to the Summary Report of the National Energy Balance 2026, from Empresa de Pesquisa Energetica, published on 3 June 2026 with 2025 as base year, renewables accounted for 86.8% of Brazil's electricity mix, industry's energy mix is 65.1% renewable, and the power sector emitted 64.8 kg CO2 eq per MWh.

A clean base, however, is not a financed project. Integrating the grid, own generation, batteries, bioenergy and hydrogen into a single industrial complex requires upfront capital with no obvious owner: the miner wants a contract, the developer wants revenue security, the lender wants an operating track record.

The advantage the article describes is real and measurable in BEN 2026. Turning it into system advantage depends on each site having a customer willing to contract long enough to carry the initial investment.