The 6 edition of the Energy Informatics.Academy (EI.A 2023) conference began this Wednesday (2023), at the Faculty of Electrical and Computer Engineering (Feec). The event is organized by Energy Informatics.Academy, an association that brings together researchers from around the world dedicated to studies related to the application of digital and information technologies to energy management. This is the first time that the conference has been held in Brazil and the event received support from the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) and the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), the Instituto Superior of Porto Engineering (Isep), Portugal, and Editora Springer.
The opening of the conference was attended by the dean of Unicamp, Antonio José de Almeida Meirelles, the pro-rector of Research, João Marcos Romano, the director of Feec, Hugo Figueiroa, and Luiz Carlos Silva, director of the Sustainable Campus Project and from the São Paulo Center for Energy Transition Studies (CPTEn), units that lead programs and research focused on energy management and efficiency at the University. Bo Nørregaard Jørgensen and Zheng Grace Ma, members of the organization from the University of Southern Denmark, also participated.
In this edition, EI.A 2023 will feature eight thematic conferences and presentations of 42 works, involving 193 participants from 22 countries. “It is a great achievement for us to have aroused the interest of people from so many regions”, highlighted Jørgensen, who thanked Unicamp for agreeing to host the conference.
Among the topics discussed over the three days are research that promotes dialogue in areas such as big data and data analysis, artificial intelligence, internet of things, modeling, software development, cybersecurity, smart cities and industries, economy and market, smart networks, among others. In the case of Unicamp, the organizers highlight discussions around the challenges of the energy transition. “EI.A has been a catalyst for new discussions, promoting collaborations and exchanges of ideas that transcend disciplinary boundaries”, pointed out the director of Feec. For the Dean of Research, the University has a central role in the contemporary scenario of this and other topics. “The energy transition dialogues with several other strategic areas that Unicamp is dedicated to, such as sustainability and artificial intelligence”, pointed out Romano.
“Directing the application of digital technologies and information management for the energy transition puts us a step forward in the right direction for the future”, highlighted Meirelles. According to him, Unicamp is an institution committed to training citizens capable of facing the challenges of the energy transition. “I am certain that Brazil is a country with the best opportunities to develop a sustainable economy and Unicamp is one of the best places to face these challenges.”
Sustainable matrix
The opening lectures at EI.A 2023 offered an overview of the energy scenario in Brazil and the challenges for the future. One of them, presented by Silva, addressed the work carried out by Unicamp in the search for energy efficiency. The other lecture was given by Paulo Luciano de Carvalho, Secretary of Innovation and Energy Transition at the National Electric Energy Agency (Aneel).
Currently, a significant part of the Brazilian energy matrix comes from renewable and carbon-free sources, such as hydroelectric power, which corresponds to 49,9% of the total, photovoltaic, which accounts for 15,8% of the matrix, and wind power, with 12,2% of the total. .7,7%, and biomass and natural gas, with 80%. “Together, these sources total around XNUMX% of the matrix. Therefore, with regard to the energy transition, we already have a decarbonized matrix, which is an advantage”, highlighted the director of CPTEn.
The professor explained that, although the country has a tradition in the development of renewable sources, there is a need to overcome the paradigm of basing energy generation on large projects, such as the Itaipu hydroelectric plant. Despite being a carbon-free source, Itaipu, due to its colossal dimensions, generates other environmental and social impacts. “Over the last 20 years, there has been a movement to encourage smaller-scale energy generation, based on smaller solar, wind and biomass energy plants. This is a new paradigm,” he detailed.
Based on this scenario, Unicamp develops projects aimed at applying policies and technologies that increase the energy efficiency of its campuses. Project management, such as the installation of solar panels in buildings and the replacement of lamps and equipment, in addition to other actions, focuses on the Sustainable Campus project, created in 2017. “Everything we see is necessary abroad we try to implement here on campus”, he summarizes, also highlighting the training of professionals to develop technologies and projects for the future, including the use of areas of the future International HUB for Sustainable Development (HIDS) for agrovoltaic application, which combines cultivation of food with energy generation.
In Carvalho's assessment, the actions developed by Unicamp are in line with the policies encouraged by Aneel. The body is responsible for regulating the sector in the country and currently encourages projects aimed at modernizing the electrical system, digitizing the sector and incorporating new digital technologies, such as the use of artificial intelligence and the formation of smart networks. “In this matter, the proximity to universities and the topics discussed here at the conference is very important for us”, he assessed.
Carvalho also highlighted the investments made by the organization. “Today, Aneel is developing 66 projects, with investments of around US$80 million in all stages of energy generation,” he detailed. According to the secretary, one of the objectives of the projects is to promote the effective participation of academia in the search for new technologies.
EI.A 2023 activities run until this Friday (8).
Access the complete program and the link to the works presented.
