Socioeconomic Impacts of the Energy Transition in Brazil - Data Collection and Organization

• Grant number: 25/10445-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2025
• End date: June 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Principal Investigator: Luiz Carlos Pereira da Silva
• Grantee: Guilherme Nunes Santos
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Engenharia Elétrica e de Computação (FEEC). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 21/11380-5 - CPTEn - São Paulo Center for the Study of Energy Transition, AP.CCD

Abstract

"The energy transition has been consolidating as one of the most strategic and urgent agendas of the 21st century. It is at the heart of global efforts to mitigate the effects of climate change, reduce dependence on fossil fuels, and promote sustainable and inclusive development models. In Brazil, the relevance of this process is even more evident: the country has one of the cleanest energy matrices in the world, with about 83% of its electricity generation coming from renewable sources in 2023, according to data from the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME). However, this matrix is undergoing rapid transformation, with the advancement of new technologies (such as solar photovoltaic and wind), decentralized generation models, digitalization of services, and the emergence of new actors in the market.In addition to the technical and environmental aspects, the energy transition has profound socioeconomic impacts. It is estimated that the renewable energy sector has already generated over 1.3 million direct and indirect jobs in Brazil, according to IRENA (2023). This number is expected to grow with the expansion of distributed generation and the rise of innovative businesses, such as energy cooperatives, clean tech startups, and the role of prosumers - consumers who also produce their own energy. However, the country still faces significant challenges regarding regional inequality, access to energy, and productive inclusion.Understanding and measuring these impacts is essential to guide public policies, direct investments, and ensure that the Brazilian energy transition is fair, inclusive, and evidence-based. To achieve this, a structured effort is needed for the collection, organization, and analysis of public and sectoral data, with the development of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that allow the assessment of the social and economic impacts of the ongoing transformations.This work plan aims to contribute directly to this mission by involving a Scientific Initiation scholarship holder to assist in building and analyzing a national database on the socioeconomic impacts of the energy transition. In addition to providing empirical support for the Paulista Center for Energy Transition Studies - CPTEn, the activity also aims to offer technical and critical training to the student, bringing them closer to current tools in data science, public policy, and energy transition." (AU)