Energy, industrial and
transport transition
The axis’s central objective is to promote the decarbonization of the energy matrix and industrial systems through a just energy transition, with security and accessibility as a driver of the country’s competitiveness and socioeconomic development. We support projects and initiatives that stimulate different fronts for the energy transition, aiming to consolidate pathways to maximize the share of renewable sources in the Brazilian electricity matrix, promote decarbonizing solutions, attract green industrial investments, and support the development of the debate on the use of fossil fuels in the transition. With this, the axis seeks to demonstrate the feasibility of the transition to a new sustainable, inclusive, and low-carbon development model.
Renewables
Approach:
- Generate knowledge and qualified dialogue to improve the regulation, planning, operation and efficiency of the system;
- Support the development of mechanisms that enable the implementation of a renewable infrastructure;
- Collaborate with the implementation of transition plans that reduce the participation of fossil fuels in the Brazilian electrical sector;
- Promote instruments that enable a just energy transition.
Fossil fuels
The work of this front is to indicate ambitious and innovative projects for the oil and gas (O&G) sector, promote investments in low carbon alternatives, train actors for the debate about decarbonization and promote structural changes in the sector.
Approach:
- Work to redirect O&G resources and the repositioning of Petrobras;
- Act in the qualification of investments in energy transition;
- Encourage the creation of mechanisms for the use of O&G revenue for the transition;
- Promote studies and forums for the qualification of actors about the role and limits of the biofuels;
- Support the establishment of value chains for the production of sustainable fuels;
- Identify and encourage decarbonization alternatives in the long-distance transport system, which is the largest source of emissions by energy use in the country.
Just industrial
transition
Approach:
- Expand and strengthen the engagement with investors, industrial sector entrepreneurs, decision-makers, trade associations and (federal and subnational) governments;
- Support the development of incentives and financing mechanisms for the decarbonization of the local industry;
- Disseminate and qualify practices of powershoring as an agenda for the energy transition and industrial transformation in Brazil;
- Provide support to national and subnational implementation initiatives;
- Promote low-carbon trade (fertilizers, biofuels and steel, etc.) through the generation of knowledge and international alliances;
- Support the generation of knowledge and circular economy forums as a mitigation strategy;
- Support the promotion and qualification of sustainable critical mineral value chains;
- Collaborate towards the diverse and inclusive professional qualification in the new industry.
Northeast
The Northeast region of Brazil stands out as a strategic hub for the generation of renewable energy and for the attraction of investments in the new green industries. iCS acts to leverage the local value chains and increase the productivity and competitiveness of the regional economy, guaranteeing the overcoming of historical challenges in the territorial development, and promoting inclusion, diversity and resilience.
Approach:
- Support studies and promote dialogues about opportunities for the just energy transition in the region;
- Support and promote investment attraction initiatives (infrastructure and powershoring) and the decarbonization of the local chains;
- Support the institutionalization and qualification of the participation of organized civil society in the decision-making processes;
- Promote policies and programs for diverse and inclusive professional training.
Team
Grants
To support the decarbonization of Brazilian industry through practical consulting services to industries that identify greenhouse gas emissions in processes and products and propose reduction plans. The project trains companies and workers, strengthens industrial competitiveness, and promotes low-carbon solutions in Brazil, especially in the cement, steel, and aluminum sectors.
The project aims to develop a comparative study on conventional fertilizers, green nitrogen fertilizers, and biological inputs in Brazil, assessing costs, emissions, risks, and agronomic performance based on historical data and future scenarios. Build a Roadmap to 2030 to guide public policies, investments, and on-farm adoption, strengthening domestic industry and reducing import dependence.
Scale the LABSolar+ initiative in partnership with Banco do Brasil, the Sociobioeconomy Hub, and Rede Clima, consolidating a replicable model that integrates renewable energy and family farming. The project strengthens energy communities through the monitoring of solar systems in municipalities in Bahia, promoting energy, water, and food security, capacity building, and evidence generation to scale public policies.
Promotes the productive inclusion of young people in Sergipe by providing training for green jobs. The initiative combines education focused on renewable energy, collaboration among government, academia, and the private sector, and actions aligned with labor market demands. With a focus on solar, wind, biomass, and green hydrogen, it seeks to expand employability and support territorial development.
The project aims to identify infrastructure bottlenecks and opportunities for attracting investment and integrating Brazil—particularly the Northeast region—into global energy transition value chains, based on an analysis of value chains that are strategic to powershoring and of international trade trends.
The project aims to strengthen the leadership capacities of women students and recent graduates who intend to work or are already working in the energy sector, expand their access to professional networks and opportunities, and consolidate a replicable experience in public universities in Northeast Brazil.
Analyze ways to mitigate the growing technical impacts of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) on Brazilian networks, including measurement distortions, voltage variations, reverse flow, overloads, and relevant effects on technical distribution losses. The goal is to generate recommendations for effective solutions, ensuring operational safety and tariff equality.
The Brazilian Climatechs Forum (FBC) will carry out a series of actions to accelerate solutions that reduce emissions and increase energy efficiency. The agenda combines market intelligence, regional meetings, and structured connections between entrepreneurs, investors, mentors, and companies. The fronts include Open Energy, IoT, Big Data, AI, smart grids, and smart meters, in addition to distributed generation.
To articulate Brazilian and Chinese stakeholders to catalyze strategic partnerships and investments in low-carbon value chains in Brazil. The initiative strengthens bilateral cooperation on sustainable agriculture and clean energy, promotes institutional dialogue, generates technical evidence, and supports pilot projects aligned with national sustainability priorities and Brazilian public policies.
The project aims to strengthen the integration of ocean and climate agendas in Brazil by bringing together civil society, governments, academia, and the private sector to accelerate ocean- and coastal-based climate solutions through 2027, via capacity mapping, multisector dialogues, and advocacy in national and international forums.
To deliver a comprehensive assessment of Brazil’s steel value chain, identifying opportunities to strengthen recycling and circular economy practices, promote low-carbon steel production, and provide data-driven recommendations to enhance industrial competitiveness and support the country’s decarbonization goals.
The project aims to support the development of Brazil’s National Blue Economy Strategy by promoting technical meetings and regional participatory workshops to strengthen the draft. It will also produce a consolidated report and a technical study to inform a Brazilian taxonomy, strengthening alignment between public policies, sustainable finance, and ocean-based economic development.
This project aims to position the just transition as a central axis of development in Brazil, ensuring a leading role for workers, unions, and young people. The initiative connects climate and labor agendas based on territorial experiences, proposing public policies to build green, inclusive, and socially just prosperity with popular participation in decisions.
To strengthen regional planning in Brazil’s Northeast in response to the climate transition by mapping sectors, capacities, and regional vocations to identify green jobs opportunities in the green economy. The project integrates data, participation, and education to deliver diagnostics and training proposals that foster a just and sustainable transition.
To engage in regulation and legislative debate on remuneration models in auctions, highlighting avoided costs of pumped-storage plants and batteries compared to fossil solutions; to build SNDC’s capacity to operate in market opening with consumer safeguards and greenwashing prevention, and to participate in strategic forums to influence political and technical decisions.
The advancement of distributed generation and the integration of renewable sources pose new challenges to the National Interconnected System (SIN). Some countries are already experiencing similar situations, adjusting subsidies, incentives, and regulations. The work consists of mapping, analyzing, and comparing these international models, identifying best practices applicable to Brazil and recommendations for regulatory adjustments.
The project aims to quantify, at the national and regional levels, the benefits of the bioeconomy in terms of financial aspects and carbon emissions mitigation capacity, based on updating the results of a previous study. It expands the scope of the assessment by incorporating new parameters and variables, including new technologies, and developing a regionalized analysis of impacts.
Strengthen the role of energy consumers as central agents in the fight against the climate crisis, enhancing citizen engagement and industry competitiveness to subsidize public policies. The project integrates legislative monitoring, events, communication campaigns, educational actions, and social initiatives to empower consumers’ leadership in a Just Energy Transition.
Structure a fair and sustainable energy transition model for the Southeast Rio Grande mesoregion, driving the phase-out of coal mining and promoting the development of a new circular economy based on biogas and biomethane.
To strengthen the National Energy Transition Policy (PNTE) with a focus on transparency, technical rigor, and social engagement, across four key areas: (i) Communication and Engagement for strategic audiences; (ii) Technical Support to FONTE, enhancing its governance and representativeness; (iii) Continuous Improvement of PLANTE, through critical analyses and evidence-based recommendations; and (iv) Initial Architecture for PNTE Evaluation, structuring Evaluability, Theory of Change, and Logic Model for future monitoring.
To map circular economy solutions in Brazil based on ISO 59004, developing a Circular Economy Hub and an Investment Thesis to boost regenerative and inclusive businesses. The project aims to strengthen governance, productive inclusion, and fair financing in Brazil’s circular economy transition.
To address the sector’s regulatory challenges to explore policies for the social use of decentralized energy, proposing the mapping and analysis of successful experiences in Brazil and abroad that can drive MMGD in urban, rural, and isolated community contexts, through the development of an atlas, policy briefs and a critical review of current incentive policies for expansion.
The project is organized around four axes: (i) to engage government agencies in the development and validation of the cabotage transition plan; (ii) to conduct multisectoral technical dialogues; (iii) to detail critical actions with ABAC and public counterparts; (iv) to advance logistical solutions for low-carbon fuels.
The project will focus on four areas: (i) to assess subsidies for fossil and renewable energy sources in support of transparent reforms; (ii) to monitor oil revenues and their role in climate finance; (iii) to deepen the debate on critical minerals, regulation, and governance; (iv) to analyze and monitor the implementation of the Brazilian Sustainable Taxonomy (TSB) in sectors such as mining and energy.
The project will focus on four pillars: (i) strengthening the Transport, Energy, Agriculture, and Minerals coalitions; (ii) advancing sustainable finance in coordination with CFH; (iii) adapting the Global Circularity Protocol to Brazil; and (iv) consolidating Marina Grossi’s role as Special Envoy at COP30, fostering business solutions and policy influence to accelerate Brazil’s just transition.