Paraguay ranks fourth among the world’s largest per capita producers of hydropower, clean and renewable energy. However, there is a significant difference between the production and demand of electricity. Most of this energy is destined for export, which characterizes a great paradox of the energy matrix. Energy consumption is predominantly based on biomass and hydrocarbons, and electricity penetration is quite limited, with difficulty replacing other energy sources. In this context, the main sector of fossil fuel consumption is transport, therefore, the country must allocate large financial resources to import all petroleum products whose price is also subject to fluctuations in the international market. The motivation of the work is to explore a sustainable alternative of consumption of hydrocarbons in transport and analyse the impact of the insertion of electric vehicles in the national energy matrix, specifically private vehicles. This analysis was carried out by developing an integrated bottom- up energy model using the LEAP © (Long-range Energy Alternatives Planning System) software, focused on the particular transport sector. The measure adopted is based on the inclusion of electric vehicles in the Paraguayan automotive fleet, in order to reduce fossil fuel consumption by 20% in the private transport sector, thus helping to meet some of the objectives of the National Development Plan Paraguay 2,030. As a result, it was found that 137,013 electric vehicles will be necessary to achieve such reduction in fossil fuel consumption. As an effect on the national energy matrix, there would be a reduction of two percentage points in the consumption of hydrocarbons and an increase of two percentage points in the consumption of electricity, thus helping the clean energy sources produced to be used nationally

The equitable use and distribution of shared water resources is a topic of renewed regional debate in Latin America, especially given the recent review of the Binational ITAIPU Treaty between Brazil and Paraguay. Building more equitable and transparent agreements in this context requires an understanding of the historical trends of negotiations. This study analyzes five decades of negotiations on the shared use of water resources in the Paraná River Basin, drawing on interviews with former negotiators and officials from Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. The complex interaction between internal dynamics and geopolitical factors in establishing state-owned transboundary hydroelectric plants is highlighted. Based on these findings, we propose a conceptual framework that identifies the key elements to consider when negotiating strategic resources at national and regional levels. This study, extending beyond the Paraná basin, offers an applicable model for managing other shared natural resources, providing useful insights into negotiation strategies for transboundary resource and infrastructure management.

The present work has the purpose of performing an Analysis and Optimization of Current Energy Resources of the city of Bahía Negra — Chaco Paraguayo. Examining the annual investments made by the National Electricity Administration (ANDE), and presenting the alternatives for electric power sources to work together (in a hybrid form), of the current generator. The project also studies the feasibility of installation of more efficient devices in the factors of greater impact of the consumption matrix, in the branch of Luminotecnia, such as Compact Fluorescent Lamps and LED Lamps. In the exploration of a more economical and sustainable energy matrix, the technologies that could be used to the river as an energy source, such as: Hydrokinetic Power Plants, Central with Archimedean Screw, Central with Hydraulic Wheel, and a Detour Center were studied. The potential of Solar, Wind and Biomass (for the generation of Biogas) was also studied, in addition the costs of a future transmission line of 23 and 66 kV for the locality were estimated. It was determined that the most economical energy matrix would be that of a hybrid Diesel — Natural Gas system, plus the implementation of LED artifacts in lighting, with which the expenditure for the generation of electric energy is considerably reduced.

In 1973, two noteworthy bilateral treaties were signed between South American countries for the use of part of the shared hydroelectric potential in the Paraná River Basin. The international negotiations presented complexities of various kinds and resulted in an asymmetrical situation between Paraguay and the partner countries (Argentina and Brazil) of hydropower plants (YACYRETA and ITAIPU). The negotiations continued during the construction and operation of the power plants, seeking, at first, to improve the positions of the country that was initially more vulnerable in the negotiations and, above all, making viable these large projects that implemented the state of the art technologies for hydroelectric plants and electrical transmission. The systematization of experiences in the negotiations can be used to advance with the regional electrical integration, given that there is still a high hydroelectric potential to be harnessed in the great Rio de la Plata Basin. This potential is shared by countries of the basin and its optimal use may be the basis of a significant integration of national power systems and markets. Thus, the main objective of this work is to systematize the lessons learned in international negotiation processes, with a view to providing elements for future decision making in the area of regional integration processes and initiatives. Methods of geopolitical analysis and techniques of identification and organization of lessons learned were applied to meet the mentioned objective. The results show that the lessons learned can be classified into: i) strategic decision making; ii) strategy planning; iii) implementation of strategies; iv) monitoring and evaluation of strategies and results; and v) communications and social participation. From the analysis of these lessons learned was possible to elaborate a proposal about how to organize, at national level, the international negotiation.

The present work analyzes the experiences of electric integration in Latin America and the Caribbean, which had the main objective of maximizing social benefit. The projects developed in South America were : i) MERCOSUR, which remained without further progress than a mere energy interconnection and complementarity, and ii) UNASUR, which is currently reviving the desires of a true integration. For their part, the Andean countries formed the CAN, where their progress does not go beyond bilateral electricity exchange agreements; And on the other hand, SICA is in Central America, where it could be said that if there is an integration of electric markets. Each integration model examined its level of progress and identified the solutions reached and some barriers to its development. It was found that there is a history of cooperation and exchanges of electricity between the countries of the Southern Cone, which can be considered as the fundamental bases for integration, identifying the hydroelectric plants ITAIPU, YACYRETA and SALTO GRANDE, and the conversion networks at the border. The work proposes to create a SIESUR Electric Link, where the potential of electricity exchanges between agents of the region, coordinated by MESUR, can be exploited by replicating the guidelines proposed by SICA.

The abundance of clean and renewable electrical energy constitutes a strategic asset for the development of the countries, and Paraguay has great availability of hydroelectric energy based on its participation in the binational power plants Itaipu and Yacyretá, in condominium with Brazil and Argentina.. However, a large part of the electricity production is not consumed in the country and is transferred to both Argentina and Brazil. In this sense, it is clear that the strategic use of the surplus of hydroelectricity that is currently being transferred could be key to lead the process of economic and social development in Paraguay, either by encouraging the consumption of its energy through the installation of industries, thus generating jobs and mobilizing the internal economy, or selling the surplus to third countries. Any selected alternative and the rejection of other alternatives will be inextricably linked to an opportunity cost. This work presents a methodology that allows identifying the opportunity cost of the sale of Paraguayan electricity to the Brazilian electricity market, with the use of the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). It was possible to determine energy sales prices in the Brazilian market, for which rents would be generated that would significantly affect the development of Paraguay, ranging from US $63,55/MWh to US $2.841/MWh. It can be concluded that a scenario of high export of Paraguayan hydroelectric energy to Brazil presents an opportunity cost, for several scenarios where decision makers have a notorious predilection for the Economic, Environmental and Social criteria, in addition to some combinations of these criteria with others.