Evaluation of two hydropower plants in Brazil: using emergy for exploring regional possibilities

Two Brazilian hydropower plants (Jupiá and Porto Primavera) located in the same watershed were explored in terms of the global resources needed to support these enterprises using a donor-side approach. Emergy theory and methods although commonly used by environmental scientists, may seem difficult to interpret for policy and decision-makers. Because of this, the possibility of transforming emergy flows and indices into money and area measures is explored in the present paper. Both hydropower plants deliver the same power and rely on practically the same infrastructure but involve very different flooded areas. Indirect areas calculated in terms of emergy show the different spatial distribution of resources. Some realistic alternatives for development were explored from both environmental and economic perspectives by using the emergy investment ratio and taking into account the matching between the enterprises emergy flows and the regional ones. •The global resources supporting two hydropower plants were calculated by using emergy.•Non-renewable resources emergy flows are dependent on flooded area.•Alternative and potential options of regional development were explored by using the emergy investment ratio.•The approach can help decision-makers to better allocate the regional resources.