Technological innovation policies to promote renewable energies: Lessons from the European experience for the Brazilian case

Over the past few years we have been seeing a trend in the Brazilian political scenario towards increasing the share of new renewable energy sources (RES-E), other than large hydropowers, in electricity generation. The central policy was achieved through PROINFA (Program to Encourage Alternative Energy Sources), which defined two distinct stages and mechanisms to promote biomass, SHPs and wind energy. This study aims to analyze the developments in renewable energy policies and the prospects for Brazil based on the European experience in promoting RES-E. It evaluated the policy instruments adopted by the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Germany, as well as the barriers and results of these policies. Based on these case studies, proposals and recommendation are given to overcome the problems in the Brazilian case.