Spotlight: Brazil's top electric power R&D projects

Enel Brasil is carrying out the most expensive R&D program managed by Brazil’s electric power watchdog Aneel, according to data BNamericas obtained via the freedom of information act.

Aneel’s program provides that electricity distribution, transmission or generation service concessionaires must annually invest a minimum percentage of their net operational revenues in R&D. 

A power distributor in São Paulo state, Enel (formerly Eletropaulo) is investing 162mn reais (US$31mn) in the production and implementation of a pioneering batch of smart meters. 

The project aims to contribute to a reduction in the number of local interventions in the grid, reducing losses and facilitating new rates, the future free (non-regulated) market, pre-payment, increase available load and digital and residential automation services.

Started in 2019, the project is scheduled to be concluded this year.

A total of 359 R&D projects with 2.5bn reais in investments are in execution as part of the Aneel program.

Company	Description	Total cost (reais)
ELETROPAULO METROPOLITANA ELETRICIDADE DE SÃO PAULO (ENEL)	Production and implementation of pioneering batch of smart meters	162,402,924.38
ELEKTRO REDES	Digital transformation of the Neoenergia customer experience	127,809,935.89
PETROBRAS	Electric mobility strategic program, with car sharing operation, recharging services platform, business models, laboratory infrastructures and recharging solutions	73,516,174.05
ENGIE Brasil Energia	Development and certification of a national 4MW or more direct-coupled wind turbine with permanent magnet synchronous generator and full power converter	72,976,875.32
PETROBRAS	Wind-photovoltaic hybridization with energy storage	56,378,000.00
COMPANHIA PAULISTA DE FORÇA E LUZ	Electromobility and distributed energy resources: platform for smart urban environments and enabling business models	48,251,935.40
COMPANHIA PAULISTA DE FORÇA E LUZ	Development of efficient, reliable and sustainable micro-grids	45,300,000.00
EDP SÃO PAULO DISTRIBUIÇÃO DE ENERGIA	Development of solutions for national electric mobility operation: user-centered electric mobility	34,687,374.85
ENERGISA MINAS GERAIS - DISTRIBUIDORA DE ENERGIA	Development of dynamic infrastructures for recharging electric vehicle batteries, supplied with 100% solar energy and integrated with the electrical grid	27,655,060.00
CEMIG DISTRIBUIÇÃO	Veredas Sol e Lares is an alternative for the multiple use of energy in hydroelectric power plant reservoirs in the semi-arid region of Minas Gerais	27,284,221.42

Source: BNamericas based on Aneel data