Energy innovation in Brazil

André Tosi Furtado

Chapter 12 in Handbook of Energy Innovation, 2026, pp 227-245 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: This chapter describes the emergence of the Brazilian energy innovation system, which happened alongside the industrialization of the country in the twentieth century, and its evolution in the twenty-first century. The main modern energy vectors were oil and hydroelectricity. These energy sources were controlled by large state companies that developed an increasing local mastery of the technologies. The first oil shock dramatically changed the landscape of the energy sector, obliging Brazil to develop its own oil production, mainly in deep offshore, and to promote new energy sources like bioethanol. The country became a leader in these technologies during the latter part of the twentieth century. The end of state monopolies and the gradual privatization of the electricity sector did not question local technological efforts, since a new legislation that came with this institutional change obliged energy companies from the oil and electricity sector to invest in research and development. However, the environmental challenge increased dramatically in the twenty-first century, with incumbent renewables like hydropower and bioethanol. Thus, we are witnessing the emergence of new renewables, particularly wind and photovoltaics. Nevertheless, the local mastery of these technologies is weaker, especially in the case of photovoltaics, which are fully imported. The economic crises of the twentieth century have also undermined local technological efforts in the Brazilian energy innovation system.

Keywords: Brazilian Energy Innovation System; R&D Efforts in Energy; Brazilian Energy Patents; Biofuels; Oil and Gas Technological Efforts; Energy Technologies; New Renewable Energy Sources (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
ISBN: 9781035310401
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