Held in Brazil the Global Renewable Energy Forum after four days of debate on alternatives for energy production, ended with the conclusion that it is possible to find ways for countries to develop without compromising the planet's sustainability.
More than 1,000 people from 50 different countries were in the southern Brazilian city of Foz do Iguaçu to discuss production of biofuels, solar and wind energy, hydroelectric plants and biomass. The Brazilian of Itaipu Binacional, Jorge Samek, highlighted the role played by Brazil in this scenario.
"Our country is the world's leading example of renewable electric power production. On the whole, 91% of electric power consumed in Brazil in 2006 came from renewable energy. Now we have biomass, it is a blessing for the planet," he stated.
At the closing of the meeting, the director general of the United Nations Organization for Industrial Development (UNIDO), Kandeh Yumkella, highlighted the role played by Brazil in the discussion of renewable power sources and called attention to the importance of knowledge exchange between countries.
The director for technology at Eletrobrás, Ubirajara Rocha Meira, said that the forum achieved its main goals, namely reaffirming the position of Brazil within the international community, obtaining an overview of the benefits of renewable energies, as well as the obstacles to it, and creating commercial opportunities between organisations from around the world.
Besides Itaipu and Onudi, the Global Renewable Energy Forum was organized by Eletrobrás and the Brazilian Ministry of Mines and Energy.