Energy

Energy planning and climate change at COPPE

The areas in energy, low-carbon systems, and climate change mitigation are some of the areas that strongly drive research and development of new technologies. These fields consist of applying knowledge in Engineering and Economics to their multiple subjects, promoting the transition to a sustainable energy mix and mitigating the impacts of climate change.

The application of these principles and knowledge makes it possible to carry out projects and materialize innovative solutions for the development and implementation of clean energy technologies, emission monitoring and control systems, analytical tools for energy optimization and simulation, new sustainable materials, and low-carbon devices. These solutions aim to address challenges such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions, transitioning to renewable energy, improving energy efficiency, and adapting to climate change impacts.

The creation of an innovation ecosystem in this area follows the concept of business ecosystems and the influence they have on development and innovation around the world. This ecosystem requires complementary competencies, excellence in research, access to RD&I infrastructure, public funding, partnerships with the private sector, and an innovative mindset to create value addition for our national economy and solve complex problems in energy and climate change. In addition to this scenario, it promotes the education of highly specialized professionals and generates employment and income in our country.

Our infrastructure and role in energy and climate change

We at COPPE operate in several core subjects in energy and climate change, having several of the essential competencies for this area, including:

1. Technology Research and Development: we have a solid capacity for research and development in technology. Some of our competencies are studying renewable energy sources, such as floating photovoltaics, offshore wind power, and advanced biofuels; developing energy storage technologies; optimizing energy systems; and analyzing environmental impacts.
2. Human Resources Education and Development: we play a fundamental role in training highly qualified professionals for this sector. Some examples of our competencies are our two master’s and doctoral programs in Energy Planning and Environmental Planning, as well as specialization and professional development courses in areas such as energy planning, energy efficiency, and energy management.
3. Technical Advisory and Consulting: our institution offers technical advisory and consulting services to government agencies, companies, and other institutions in energy and climate change. Our competencies include preparing strategic plans, feasibility analyses, public policy assessments, and technical support for implementing decarbonization strategies and climate neutrality goals. Promotion of and Participation in Networks and Partnerships: we at COPPE promote and participate in national and international networks and partnerships related to energy and climate change. We collaborate with leading institutions in energy and climate research, governments, and international organizations for the purpose of sharing knowledge and promoting joint actions to address global energy and climate challenges.

RD&I Projects

We at COPPE develop Research, Development, and Innovation (RD&I) projects in several different areas of knowledge and economic sectors. Some of the main categories of RD&I projects we develop include:

1. Renewable and Sustainable Energy: projects for developing and improving renewable energy technologies, such as solar energy, wind energy, bioenergy, and hydrogen as an energy carrier. Some examples are feasibility studies and studies of system optimization, energy storage, and integration of renewable sources into the energy mix.
2. Energy Efficiency: projects in this category aim to promote efficiency in energy management and usage for the industrial, residential, and commercial sectors. These include developing technologies and procedures for energy efficiency, controlling and monitoring consumption, analyzing energy systems and processes, and identifying cost-saving opportunities.
3. Energy Planning and Public Policies: this category encompasses projects for the analysis, formulation, and implementation of public policies and energy planning strategies. These include demand analysis; studies of energy scenarios under different global warming conditions; developing models and tools to support decision-making, as well as assessing socioeconomic and environmental impacts.
4. Industrial Processes and Technologies: this category encompasses RD&I projects for developing innovative technologies and processes in the industrial sector, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and local air pollutants and to increase efficiency. Some of the areas in which we operate are Industry 4.0, circular economy, municipal solid waste management, green chemistry, and development of sustainable materials.

Multidisciplinary skills

We at COPPE have multidisciplinary skills that comprise several areas of activity in energy and climate change. These multidisciplinary skills include:

1. Modeling and Simulation: we have extensive experience in modeling and simulation of energy systems, allowing for integrated scenario analysis, impact assessment, and optimization of solutions. This involves using advanced computational models to assess the behavior of complex energy systems, assisting with strategic decision-making in climate change mitigation and adaptation for the energy sector.
2. Regulatory and Policy Analysis: we have the necessary skills to analyze energy policies, regulatory frameworks, and economic instruments, aiming at identifying opportunities and challenges for the transition to low-carbon energy.
3. Environmental and Social Impact Assessment: we assess environmental and social impact associated with energy policies and projects. Some examples are environmental impact studies, life cycle analysis, and analysis of social and economic aspects for an integrated and sustainable approach to energy planning.
4. Technology Transfer and Innovation: we at COPPE promote technology transfer and innovation in the energy sector to mitigate climate change. This includes identifying and developing sustainable technology, protecting intellectual property, collaborating with companies, and promoting partnerships for implementing innovative low-carbon solutions.

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