Advanced Research Development Program on Renewable Energy Technologies in the Amazon Region

• Grant number: 25/02635-0
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: September 01, 2025
• End date: August 31, 2030
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Mechanical Engineering - Mechanical Engineering Design
• Principal Investigator: Jerson Rogério Pinheiro Vaz
• Grantee: Jerson Rogério Pinheiro Vaz
• Host Institution: CAMPUS UNIVERSITARIO ANANINDEUA/UFPA
• Pesquisadores principais: ADRY KLEBER FERREIRA DE LIMA ; Alexandre Luiz Amarante Mesquita ; Roberto Tetsuo Fujiyama
• Associated researchers: ANDRE CAVALCANTE DO NASCIMENTO ; Kayt Nazaré do Vale Matos ; Luis Carlos Macedo Blasques ; Renato Luz Cavalcante ; Silvio Bispo do Vale

Abstract

The northern region of Brazil comprises the national portion of the Amazon region, whose coastline is bathed by the Atlantic Ocean, is located on the equatorial margin, and has the greatest biodiversity in a tropical forest in the world. Its importance is known for its size, biodiversity and abundance of biological, water, mineral and energy resources. It is worth noting that the region has great potential for generating energy from renewable sources. However, one of the main problems faced by the Amazon is the lack of qualified human resources, resulting in large socio-economic differences with other regions of the country, leading to an asymmetry in professional training that has lasted for decades. In order to contribute to reducing these differences, this project proposes the implementation of an advanced research program on renewable energy technologies, such as green hydrogen, technologies for sustainable thermoelectric generation through the use of biomass and energy storage, which promote professional qualification in the conscious use of natural resources for the region that serve local industry and unassisted communities. It is believed that the main advantage of most renewable sources is their small, or almost no, environmental impact. Also common to the renewable sources mentioned is the characteristic of decentralization, with very low transmission costs. Due to the high dispersion of the Amazon population, this is already an excellent justification for implementing this proposal in the region, in addition to the potential of natural resources that have not yet been used. In this sense, with the approval of this proposal, the aim is to become a reference in research on renewable energy, disseminate the energy issue, expand the training of human resources in the Amazon and strengthen collaboration and actions between national research and teaching institutions (Northern region of Brazil) and international collaborating institutions (University of Calgary, Canada and Pennsylvania State University, USA). Through international institutions, the proposal will offer high-level training opportunities to professional researchers, students and teachers, in addition to promoting specialized laboratories in the region for the study of innovative and sustainable technologies aimed at energy generation. It is important to note that TRANSPETRO is a partner in this project and will provide access to studies at the Coari-AM terminal for the implementation of hydrokinetic turbines, demonstrating the relationship of this proposal with the local industry. Another important point of this project is the development of 100% national technologies, which will positively impact the expected results of the program. According to a survey carried out by the Startup DCO-Sustentavel (https://dcosustentavel.com.br/), national technologies can be up to 50% cheaper compared to imported ones, and the vast majority of renewable technologies used today in Brazil are imported. (AU)