January 11, 2023

Initiative Led by UAI Researchers Spanned Three Years and Involved $450 Million in Funding

In December 2020, a group of academics and researchers from the Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez (UAI), Faculty of Engineering and Sciences, and the Business School won the Anillo Project ACT-192094. This initiative aimed to study the adaptation of Chilean energy systems to climate change by analyzing the use of renewable energies in the energy transition to achieve a significant (or total) reduction in CO2 emissions by 2050.

The project lasted three years and received $450 million in funding. It was led by UAI researchers Tito Homem-de-Mello (Business School), Javiera Barrera, Roberto Cominetti, Eduardo Moreno, Daniel Olivares, and Francisca Jalil-Vega (Faculty of Engineering and Sciences), who developed mathematical models to examine various aspects of the energy transition.

Key Research Areas

The project focused on:

  1. Quantifying climate uncertainty for using renewable energy sources like wind, hydropower, and solar in energy systems (for electricity and heating).
  2. Energy planning to define optimal investments in a zero-CO2 emissions energy matrix by 2050.
  3. Analyzing the impact of renewable energies on electricity markets.

Tito Homem-de-Mello, project director, UAI Business School professor, and member of the Energy Transition Center (CENTRA), highlighted the importance of these findings in guiding public energy policy decisions and promoting investments in research and innovation by universities and industry. He stated, “Chile needs decisions today without certainty about tomorrow’s energy landscape. To quantify the future uncertainty of alternative clean energy use, we used sophisticated mathematical models to understand these processes and generate predictive solutions based on data from academic sources and the Ministry of Energy. For instance, the models account for the temporal and spatial correlation between renewable energy plants, which depend on climate—a significant mathematical challenge.”

Addressing Climate and Technical Risks

Homem-de-Mello explained that adapting energy systems to climate change also requires assessing physical risks from extreme natural events like hurricanes, landslides, and fires, which impact energy systems and will continue to occur. The research also examined technical challenges in designing resilient and reliable networks. Lessons from energy transitions in other countries were incorporated, as well as green hydrogen integration, but the models were specifically tailored to Chile’s laws, geography, and resources.

A Collaborative Challenge

Carlos Toro, head of the Energy Planning and Innovation Unit at the Ministry of Energy, emphasized the collaborative nature of achieving carbon neutrality before 2050. He noted, “This is a national challenge requiring joint efforts from public and private sectors, academia, and civil society. Research, development, and innovation form the technical foundation for a sustainable future. Projects like UAI’s contribute significantly to informed decision-making, creating favorable market conditions for future energy needs at competitive prices.”

Toro highlighted that the project’s findings and tools will help understand the territorial characteristics impacting different communities across Chile, serving as an essential resource for long-term energy planning and the development of strategic national infrastructure to achieve carbon neutrality.

The Impact of Climate Change

Daniel Olivares, director of CENTRA at UAI, stressed the urgent need to address the effects of climate change on Chile’s energy resources and supply reliability. He stated, “The effects of climate change threaten to reduce our energy resource availability and supply reliability, negatively impacting economic activity and quality of life. Understanding these risks and adapting regulations and management models is crucial for an efficient and secure energy sector.”

Closing Event

The project’s closure will be marked by the seminar “Challenges and Tools for Adapting Energy Systems to Climate Change” on Friday, January 20, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at UAI’s Errázuriz Campus (Av. Presidente Errázuriz 3485, Las Condes).

The seminar will showcase the development of new mathematical models and computational methods designed to support public and private sectors in adapting energy systems and markets to the uncertainties and risks posed by climate change.

The event will feature distinguished guests, including:

  • Asgeir Tomasgard, professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and director of the Norwegian Centre for Energy Transition Strategies (FME NTRANS).
  • Francisco Muñoz, former UAI academic and current research director at Generadoras de Chile AG.
  • Renato Cabrera, interim dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Sciences.
  • Juan Carlos Jobet, dean of the UAI Business School and former Minister of Mining and Energy.

Registration for the seminar is open.

Read the full article on: Revista EI.