Brazil's Semiárido Region Boosts Renewable Energy Research with New Innovation Hub
Brazil inaugurates CTERSÃ in the Semiárido to enhance renewable energy research and innovation, focusing on solar, wind, biomass, biofuels, and hydrogen.
- • CTERSA inaugurated in Paraíba with R$34 million investment to boost renewable energy research in Semiárido.
- • Focus on solar, wind, biomass, biofuels, and low-carbon hydrogen energy technologies.
- • MCTI’s Strategic Agenda for 2032 plans over 300 actions for regional energy innovation.
- • USP studies enhance green hydrogen production efficiency using advanced catalysts.
Key details
The Brazilian Semiárido region marked a significant advancement in renewable energy research with the inauguration of the Center for Renewable Energy Technology (CTERSA) on June 19, 2026. Located at the National Institute of the Semiárido (Insa) in Paraíba, this new facility represents a major investment of R$ 34 million from the National Fund for Scientific and Technological Development (FNDCT) through the Financier of Studies and Projects (Finep).
Spanning 2,205 square meters, CTERSÀ is designed to foster collaboration among researchers, companies, and public institutions, focusing on five strategic areas: solar energy, wind energy, biomass, biofuels, and low-carbon hydrogen. The center also undertakes research on desalination, process automation, circular economy, carbon capture, and smart energy management. This initiative aligns with the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation's (MCTI) broader strategy to position the Semiárido region as a renewable energy innovation hub, highlighted by the Strategic Agenda for 2032 which features over 300 developmental actions.
Etham Barbosa, director of Insa, described CTERSA as a hub connecting knowledge, research, and innovation to tackle renewable energy challenges specific to the Semiárido. The center supports the Vértice Program, which accelerates deeptech renewable projects across the Semiárido's 11 states and fosters cooperation between the scientific community and industry sectors. From 2023 to 2025, MCTI has allocated more than R$ 513 million for research and innovation in Paraíba alone, tripling previous investments and bolstering initiatives in renewable energy alongside quantum computing and industrial innovation.
Complementing this regional advancement, research from the University of São Paulo’s Institute of Physics of São Carlos (IFSC/USP) has made strides in green hydrogen production through advanced nanomaterial engineering. These studies improve catalyst efficiency for hydrogen generation using solar energy, positioning green hydrogen as a critical element in Brazil’s energy transition and climate change mitigation.
According to Minister Luciana Santos, CTERSA represents a milestone for the Semiárido and Brazil's energy transition agenda, emphasizing its potential to generate renewable energy tailored to local conditions while driving sustainable regional development. Professor Renato Vitalino Gonçalves of USP stressed the importance of continued funding and collaboration in advancing clean energy technologies, crucial for reducing fossil fuel dependency and fostering environmental and public health benefits.
This article was translated and synthesized from Brazilian sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
