Legal instruments can accelerate innovation in the electricity sector, says AGU attorney

The modernization of the Brazilian electricity sector increasingly depends on the adoption of technological solutions supported by a safe and effective regulatory environment. This is the assessment made by Bruno Portela, federal prosecutor of the Attorney General's Office (AGU), in an interview given to Canal Solar during the Energy Summit, held in Rio de Janeiro.

According to the prosecutor, the Brazilian legal system already has instruments that can be used by companies, suppliers and proponents interested in developing projects with the government, without giving up legal security.

“What we have as a novelty, and with a strong focus on legal certainty, are the instruments that were created within the Brazilian legal system. They can be used by those who want to work with the government on technological solutions, both in the area of ​​innovation and in the regulatory area,” said Portela.

Among the examples cited by the prosecutor are initiatives aimed at the use of microgrids, blockchain and green hydrogen, which can be structured in conjunction with the ANEEL (National Electric Energy Agency), ANP (National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels) and other regulatory bodies. “These tools modernize the relationship between regulatory bodies, regulated entities or between the State and the private sector in the search for solutions for society”, he highlighted.

Portela also highlighted the importance of R&D (Research & Development) programs, with emphasis on projects structured in a regulatory sandbox format — a model that allows innovations to be tested in a controlled environment. “These projects bring the possibility of mitigating risks in the application of the solution, increasing competition and creating an effective and healthy legal environment,” he pointed out.

For the prosecutor, the use of these instruments can facilitate the implementation of “end-to-end” solutions, developed by the private sector, with security and greater capacity to respond to the challenges of the energy transition in Brazil. “They bring about a healthy discussion and allow innovative solutions to be tested and evolve into new viable and sustainable business models,” he added.

Bruno Portela's vision is shared by César Augusto Ribeiro, CEO of One – a company in the group Colibri Capital. For him, the advancement of clear and updated regulatory frameworks is essential to attract international solutions and enable their insertion in the Brazilian market with greater agility and security. “It is important to have knowledge of the entire regulatory framework of the electricity sector and what is happening in terms of regulation and possibilities for the Brazilian market,” he assessed.

“For us, this year will be strategic for representation and distribution with large Chinese companies, which need to understand the local context. Having access to this information in an accurate and effective way allows us to bring solutions to Brazil in a legal, effective and shorter time,” he concluded.

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