Resumo

In sustainability studies, we see an increasing number of technical analyses on the socio-environmental impacts caused by major corporations in the area of power generation. Due to the size of these projects and their impact on the environments where they are installed, hydroelectric actions related to sustainability are often discussed. Thus, it has also been discussed about the need for corporations to address the subject of sustainability, not only as an accessory matter, but incorporating it on strategic decision-making processes.

In face of the above, the objective of this study is to analyze the geographic reach and distribution of Itaipu power plant´s investments in environmental programs, among which their following actions: (i) sediment monitoring; (ii) micro-pollutants; (iii) water quality; (iv) vegetation management of the reservoir protection range; and (v) management of river basins, considering the area of influence and the water contributions of the municipalities upstream of its reservoir.

Environmental evaluation consists of the process by which one seeks to estimate the economic value of natural resources by determining the equivalence of other available resources in the economy (Ojea et al., 2012). Turner, Adger and Brouwer (1998), and Motta (2011) defend that although there are limits to economic calculation, recognizing that not everything is subject to significant monetary valuation, measurement can play a significant role in the process of environmental policy evaluation.

The proposal for the integration of the themes is illustrated here in the form of Itaipu hydroelectric plant and its particular Sustainability Program. The research was conducted assessing documents such as the Ten-Year Energy Plan (Brazil, 2017), the plant´s annual sustainability reports, other documents such as technical reports, and energy auction notices.

A quantitative research approach was used to collect information on investments and water contributions from the analysis of water supply. It was observed that 94,6% of the investments were concentrated in regions whose water contribution to the generation of energy was less than 4%. From a results perspective, opportunities were identified for expanding investments in environmental preservation to other areas with greater relevance to maintenance of power generation.

This evaluation exercise proves the relevance of environmental preservation actions, and provides support to the power plant under analysis, for the increase of investments to be made on the field of sustainability and the flow of these to specific regions. It should also be noted that, from a technical point of view, there are other factors that also contribute for energy generation, such as upstream and downstream water levels, availability of other generating units, and market demand for energy and streaming.

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