Held for the first time outside Norway, Hydroscheduling 2025 demonstrated Brazil's influence on the international scene in innovation and science applied to the electrical segment

Hydroscheduling 2025 was held at FGV EMAp, in Rio de Janeiro | Photo: FGV EMAp

Through the School of Applied Mathematics of the Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV EMAp), Brazil was the first country to host Hydroscheduling - the International Conference on Planning and Dispatch of Hydroelectric Power Plants - outside of Norway. Created in the Nordic country, the event had a symbolic milestone in its 8th edition: leaving a European leader in energy production to land on Brazilian soil, the second largest producer of hydroelectric energy in the world.

More than a symbolic gesture, Brazil's selection represents recognition of its technical, scientific and operational capacity in energy planning, especially at a time when the world is seeking to balance efficiency, sustainability and energy security. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the International Hydroelectricity Association (IHA), Brazil is expected to account for up to 10% of global hydropower production in the coming years — a leading role that requires increasingly intelligent and integrated solutions between academic studies, the private sector and the government.

Hydroscheduling brought together researchers, students and representatives of the energy industry from Brazil and abroad | Photo: FGV EMAp

FGV EMAp at the center of the global electricity debate

The conference took place at FGV EMAp, in Rio de Janeiro, from May 27 to 29, bringing together experts, researchers, students and representatives of the energy industry from Brazil and abroad. More than just an academic center, the School has been a protagonist in the development of mathematical models, optimization algorithms and machine learning techniques applied directly to the operation of the Brazilian electrical system.

“There is mathematics everywhere in the hydroelectric power generation process”, said Bernardo Costa, one of the people responsible for bringing the conference to Brazil. “From statistical models to predict climate and water scenarios to optimization algorithms that balance cost, safety and environmental constraints, everything depends on very sophisticated modeling. And that is what we are doing here, in partnership with the world’s leading research centers”, he added, having already carried out several projects applying this to the Brazilian energy sector.

FGV EMAp researcher Bernardo Costa praised the School's leadership in bringing Hydroscheduling to Brazil for the first time | Photo: FGV EMAp

The conference’s distinguishing feature was precisely its ability to bring together researchers, system operators, software developers, students and private companies in the same space, promoting an in-depth dialogue between theory and practice. Representatives from countries such as Norway, Sweden, Germany, France, Spain, Chile, Iceland, Canada and, of course, Brazil participated. 

According to Bernardo, this achievement is a milestone for Brazil and for the Rio de Janeiro institution. “The first time outside Norway is in Brazil, and this shows the strength of our scientific community and the importance of hydroelectric generation in the country. The School has consolidated groups in statistical modeling, optimization and machine learning. It was an important milestone for FGV EMAp to lead this process”, highlighted the School’s researcher.

The role of models in the energy market

Currently, the Brazilian electricity sector is organized into two complementary fronts: the physical operation, coordinated by the National Electric System Operator (ONS), and the financial operation, led by the Electric Energy Trading Chamber (CCEE).

João Marcelo Mendonça approved the exchange of knowledge between ONS professionals and academic researchers | Photo:FGV EMAp

João Marcelo Mendonça, an electrical studies specialist at ONS, emphasized the value of interaction with academic studies, as it creates opportunities for internal processes to be implemented through research so that the energy produced, transmitted and distributed in the country is more efficient and safer for consumers. In addition, the exchange with experts from other countries also brings benefits to the agency.

“The operation of electrical systems is a global challenge. Many of the problems we face here can be the same in other countries. By sharing experiences, we learn from the mistakes and successes of others, which allows us to save time, avoid rework and deliver greater reliability to the Brazilian electrical system”, Mendonça analyzed.

An engineer in energy models and methodologies at ONS, Lucas de Souza corroborated his colleague’s vision in monitoring and controlling the generation and transmission of electricity in real time in Brazil. “We work with one of the most complex electrical systems in the world. Brazil’s continental size and the dominant role of hydroelectricity require robust mathematical models. Therefore, being close to academia is essential to make our decisions safer and more efficient.”

Event at FGV EMAp attracted audiences from Brazil, Norway, Sweden, Germany, France, Spain, Chile, Iceland and Canada | Photo: FGV EMAp

In a system as complex as Brazil's, where energy generation depends heavily on climate and hydrological factors, predictability becomes a valuable asset. The physical operation of the grid is only part of the challenge — the other, equally vital, side is ensuring that the market operates with transparency, balance, and well-founded forecasts. This is where the link between academia and the market proves to be indispensable. For Guilherme Matiussi Ramalho, manager of energy models and studies at CCEE, maintaining this dialogue with research centers is essential.

“The definition of energy prices is based on complex mathematical models. We need to predict, for example, how much rain it will rain, how much wind or sun it will have, and how this will affect the energy supply. The work of academia helps us refine these forecasts with more modern techniques, such as machine learning. In this way, we ensure a more transparent and efficient market”, says the professional.

Lilian Chaves Brandão, a researcher at Cepel, was one of the organizers of the event | Photo: FGV EMAp

The usefulness of national research

The Electric Energy Research Center (Cepel) had a significant presence in the technical presentations and institutional visits to its laboratory and the ONS. Lilian Chaves Brandão points out that innovation is also a constant. “Our models need to keep up with changes in the sector. Discussing with countries that face similar challenges helps to create more effective solutions. Brazilian hydroelectricity is very specific, like that of Norway, and this exchange is enriching”, says the researcher.

Manager of the Electroenergy Systems Department at Cepel, André Diniz was one of the idealizers of the conference coming to Brazil and celebrated the unprecedented visibility for national research.

“I have been participating in Hydroscheduling since 2008 and was surprised by the lack of Brazilian researchers. But it is not easy to go to a two-day event in Norway, where the cost is high, understandably. That is why holding the event in Brazil is a turning point. Now, our researchers will have greater access to this international forum, and our scientific production will receive greater global recognition”, believes the researcher.

For André Diniz, a researcher at Cepel, the conference at FGV EMAp will be a turning point for Brazil to take a leading role in the energy sector | Photo: FGV EMAp

Brazilian companies have also invested heavily in innovation. Norus, headquartered in Florianópolis, is an example of how technology can reduce costs and benefit society as a whole. “What we do is help companies make the best decisions when buying and selling energy”, explains Vitor de Matos, CEO of the technology and engineering company.

“By using technology to optimize these choices, we help the market become more competitive and efficient. And this, in the end, translates into a fairer electricity bill for the consumer. This connection between academic studies and the market is essential for this virtuous cycle”, continues the entrepreneur.

International researchers: learning from Brazil

This bridge between academia and the market also extends beyond continents, as demonstrated by the partnership between Norus and researcher Andy Philpott, from the University of Auckland, in New Zealand. Philpott's participation in the conference was made possible with the support of the Santa Catarina-based company — a concrete example of how collaboration between industry and academia strengthens both sides.

Andy Philpott, a researcher at the University of Auckland, chose the Brazilian electricity market as similar to that of New Zealand | Photo: FGV EMAp

For the New Zealand researcher, who studies models for interconnected electricity markets, Brazil offers a living and strategic laboratory. “I am here to learn about the Brazilian electricity market, which is very similar to New Zealand’s in terms of hydroelectricity, but with different challenges. It is essential for academia to get involved with practical problems — and for that, the support of industry is essential,” Philpott points out.

The Auckland researcher’s view on the importance of integrating science with operational practice was also echoed by professionals from the electricity industry present at the conference. One of them was Martin Haaberg, responsible for planning the operations of HKV AS, a Norwegian hydroelectric plant responsible for around 1% of the electricity generated in the Nordic country.

If, on the one hand, the mathematical models that guide the two countries — Brazil and Norway — share similar foundations, on the other hand, the hydrological, climatic and geographic contexts impose quite different challenges.

Martin Haaberg is responsible for planning the operation of the HKV AS hydroelectric plant in Norway and approved the Hydroscheduling experience in Brazil | Photo: FGV EMAp

“The models we use are, in many ways, similar to those used in Brazil. But when we look at the rivers, the hydroelectric systems and the configuration of the plants themselves, we realize that everything changes — and it changes because of the nature of our countries. This directly impacts how we deal with operations, risk and planning”, explains Haaberg. 

Just as Philpott highlighted the importance of moving beyond theory to understand market realities, Haaberg emphasized the value of exchanging experiences with countries that face such diverse operational realities, but share the same goals: efficiency, safety and sustainability. 

“It is a great privilege to be here. Sometimes we get stuck in our own ideas. It is essential to hear other perspectives, understand what others are studying and how they are solving problems similar to ours”, adds the Norwegian expert in energy production planning.

Training new talent

In addition to attracting veteran experts from industry and international research, Hydroscheduling 2025 gave prominence to the new generation of talent being trained in Brazil — such as the students of FGV EMAp itself. For these young people, participating in a conference with such technical depth and global relevance is more than an academic opportunity: it is concrete proof that the models, equations and theories learned in the classroom have a direct impact on society.

Hydroscheduling 2025 attracted system operators, software developers, students and private companies from the electricity sector | Photo: FGV EMAp

This is what Luís Henrique Bueno, an undergraduate student in Applied Mathematics at the School, realized. “What I study at FGV EMAp is stochastic optimization, that is, we want to make an optimal decision with something that is uncertain in the future, and this is exactly what the sector needs — deciding today how to generate energy without knowing if it will rain or if the price of coal will rise tomorrow. When I see that this affects how much people will pay on their electricity bill, I realize that what I study in my undergraduate degree is truly useful”, he says.

Legacy and future

The unprecedented presence of Hydroscheduling in Brazil marks a turning point not only in the history of the conference, but also in the country's position within the global energy scenario. More than a hydropower powerhouse, Brazil has shown itself to be a scientific and technological powerhouse, capable of formulating, applying and sharing cutting-edge solutions for the complex challenges of the contemporary electricity grid.

After Brazil hosts the conference in May, Hydroscheduling is scheduled to take place in Canada for the 9th edition | Photo: Cris Vicente

Brazil's leading role was evident not only in the infrastructure and academic excellence of FGV EMAp, which led the organization of the event, but also in the quality of the papers presented, the coordination between public and private institutions and research centers, and the capacity for technical dialogue with the world's leading experts.

The next edition of Hydroscheduling, already confirmed for Canada, will take place in another important hub of global hydroelectricity. Once again, Brazil will be present and positioning itself as a legitimate protagonist — with an active voice, relevant contributions and an innovation ecosystem ready to lead. The future of hydroelectric generation is being redesigned — and Brazil is definitely among the countries that are writing this new chapter.