This paper aims at analyzing particularities of the Brazilian electric system and at evaluating the potential contribution of thermal power plants targeting at its higher reliability. In special, the aim is at analyzing the insertion of thermal power production in the present context in which hydroplants start to be built in the Amazon area with small reservoir capacity. An assessment of the behavior of the energy inflows and of the regularization capacity of the Brazilian hydro power system emphazises the need for having a good quality thermal power expansion. The power production from sugarcane residues is specially considered due to the existing untapped potential (about 4 times higher than the installed capacity, considering the current availability of biomass) and the existing window opportunity due to the expansion of sugarcane industry in Brazil (mostly for ethanol production). (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.