Environmental licensing process of power transmission in Brazil update analysis: Case study of the Madeira transmission system

This paper presents the evolution of the environmental licensing process in Brazil, with focus on transmission lines, identifying and evaluating its critical aspects. For this purpose, we analyze the modalities of insertion of the environmental variable in planning for the Brazilian electric power sector, present an overview of the complexities of energy transmission in the country and describe the evolution of the environmental licensing process, in particular its application to the Madeira transmission line, the world's longest high-voltage direct current line at 2375 km, which connects the northern and southern regions of the country. Finally, we succinctly describe the latest developments of the country's environmental legislation, presenting the advances achieved and future challenges.