Brazil has received an award during this year's World Renewable Energy Congress (WREC) in recognition of its rapidly increasing use of energy from renewable sources.

At a banquet in Glasgow today, Minister Flávio Marega from the Embassy of Brazil in London was presented with the WREC/Ali Sayigh Trophy, awarded biennially to the country that has achieved the greatest increase in the use of renewable energy over the previous two years.

Government ministers and energy-sector officials from more than a hundred countries attended the event.

Recent figures from the Ministry of Mines and Energy show that in 2007, due mainly to the extensive use of biofuels and hydroelectric power, 47% of Brazil's energy mix came from renewable sources, compared with a global average of 13%.

Source: Embassy of Brazil in London