Brazil and China see shared strategy in energy transition

U.S. retreat from climate commitments boosts Brazil and China leadership ahead of COP30

Alexandre Silveira — Foto: Heka Producciones/Valor — *Alexandre Silveira — Photo: Heka Producciones/Valor*

Energy transition, particularly the challenges of expanding renewable energy, took center stage at the third panel of the Summit Valor Econômico Brazil-China 2025, held Wednesday in Shanghai. Brazilian Minister of Mines and Energy Alexandre Silveira stressed the need for multilateralism to confront the climate crisis. “COP30 will be an opportunity to link sustainability to social development and highlight the economic value of natural assets like renewable energy and biodiversity,” he said.

Liu Dehua, executive director of the China-Brazil Energy Center at Tsinghua University, noted that with the United States backing away from climate commitments, Brazil and China have emerged as the most important players in the global climate agenda. “We now have many opportunities for mutual cooperation,” he said, pointing to the role Brazilian biomass could play in China’s plan to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2060.

Jorge Arbache, professor of economics at the University of Brasília and a consultant to the Climate and Society Institute, said Brazil is well positioned to contribute to a global low-carbon economy and emphasized its alignment with China in the energy transition. “Beyond natural capital and abundant resources, Brazil is attractive to investors because of its low geopolitical risk,” he said.

Panelists also highlighted the potential for technology transfer in Brazil-China cooperation. Victor Zhang, chief energy expert at Huawei Digital Power, said Brazil’s Northeast region has vast wind and solar potential, but its ultra-high voltage transmission networks require dynamic adjustments to maintain voltage stability. “That’s why we’ve developed competitive smart grid solutions and can transfer this technology to support Brazil’s sustainable energy transition,” he said.

Sun Tao, chairman of State Grid Brazil Holding, recalled that the company has been operating in Brazil since 2010 and continues to invest in the country, applying ultra-high voltage transmission technology. “We are closely following the development of renewable energy and the challenge of transmitting this energy from major production hubs in the Northeast to consumption centers in the Southeast,” he said.

Li Yinsheng, president of China Three Gorges International, acknowledged Brazil’s extensive hydroelectric infrastructure but cautioned that climate variability and capacity limits make it necessary to expand installed generation capacity—especially in light of Brazil’s reindustrialization plans. “Hydropower can be part of the solution, but we are also conducting research to develop alternative energy sources in Brazil,” he said.

Li Sisheng, vice president of Power China International, said Brazil’s competitive edge in renewable energy could position it as a destination for tech-related investment, particularly in data centers designed for artificial intelligence. “AI development is extremely energy-intensive, and Brazil has abundant supply from wind, solar, biomass, and green hydrogen,” he noted.

The summit is organized by Editora Globo and Valor Econômico in partnership with the Brazilian Center for International Relations (Cebri) and Caixin Global; with main sponsorship from BRF and Marfrig; sponsorship from Cedae, ApexBrasil, the Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade and Services, the Rio de Janeiro City Hall, CNA/Senar, BYD, and Huawei; and support from Eletromidia, Vale, CNI, the São Paulo State Government, Ports of Paraná, Suzano, São Paulo City Hall, and FIESP.

*By Carlos Vasconcellos — Rio de Janeiro

Source: Valor International

https://valorinternational.globo.com