ABB & Formula E Go To Brazil (Video)
Promoting renewable energy in the Global South is essential, and for several important reasons.
First, countries in the Global South are often highly reliant on fossil fuels for energy production, which contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants that have harmful environmental and health impacts. By shifting to renewable sources of energy, such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric power, these countries can reduce their carbon footprint and other negative environmental impacts. Wealthier areas are doing it, but that just isn’t enough to solve a problem that humanity as a whole faces.
On top of that, many countries in the Global South face energy poverty, with a large percentage of their population lacking access to affordable and reliable energy sources. Expanding renewable energy infrastructure can help address this issue by providing clean, sustainable and affordable electricity to communities that need it the most. In other words, this could be a matter of having electricity at all in some areas!
Finally, promoting renewable energy in the Global South can help drive job creation and economic growth. The renewable energy sector employs a growing workforce, ranging from highly skilled engineers to field workers, and creates new opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors. By investing in renewable energy, countries in the Global South can boost their economies, create new job opportunities, and position themselves as leaders in a fast-growing and increasingly important global industry.
Basically, everything that defines the Global South today can be mitigated, making it a pointless term in the long run.
A recent announcement from Formula E shows that efforts are underway to do just that. The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship was set to host the first-ever São Paulo E-Prix in Brazil this past weekend. As the seventh most populous country in the world, Brazil boasts a significant following and rich history of motorsport.
The Gen3 car’s increased power is set to be on full display at the upcoming São Paulo E-Prix, with the track promising to be a fast one. Spanning 2.96km and featuring 14 turns, the course takes racers through the bustling streets of the Anhembi district. Along the way, drivers will traverse two additional straights and navigate through challenging chicanes, sweeping corners and tight turns. The main straight, typically reserved for carnival floats, will serve as the starting point for the race.
“The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship being held here in Brazil, where motorsport passion runs high, is an opportunity to educate a large number of people about the benefits of energy efficiency and more sustainable forms of transportation.” said Luciano Nassif, Country Holding officer, ABB Brazil. “ABB has been working in Brazil for more than 110 years to drive sustainable progress and, for us, this is another positive step in the journey to enable real change.”
ABB’s E-mobility arm has experienced year-over-year growth in Brazil, attributed in part to the growing use of EV fleets, such as last mile fleets that include electric trucks, delivery vans and other vehicles. This burgeoning sector has been bolstered by various projects, including a successful partnership between ABB, energy company EDP Smart and automaker Audi. As part of this collaboration, ABB DC Wallbox chargers were implemented at Audi dealerships throughout Brazil to support the expansion of EV adoption across the country.
Companies with strong environmental policies have made the e-mobility sector a priority, recognizing the potential impact of electrified vehicle fleets in achieving ambitious CO2 reduction goals. The increased adoption of EVs is evident from the 47% spike in sales during the first two months of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022, according to The Brazilian Association of Electric Vehicles (ABVE). This uptake in EV usage is critical to curb emissions in megacities like São Paulo, where reducing pollution levels is a key objective.
Efficient energy management has always been a crucial element of motorsport, and the same holds true for ABB’s sustainability solutions being implemented in various projects throughout Brazil. One notable example is the ongoing collaboration with Saneago, a sanitation company operating in the state of Goiás. With the aim of modernizing the drive systems for motors and electric pumps, ABB has installed intelligent sensors — a part of a digital solution — which work in tandem with 15 electric motors and frequency inverters to regulate speed and optimize energy consumption. Thanks to this installation, Saneago is expected to save over 6000 MWh in energy per year, a remarkable achievement in energy conservation.
ABB’s commitment to sustainability in Brazil is not limited to energy conservation, but also extends to promoting the use of renewable energy. As part of this drive, the company recently inked a memorandum of understanding with the government of Ceará state in Brazil to establish a hub for the production of green hydrogen in the region. The agreement outlines plans to conduct feasibility studies in partnership with local entities to assess the potential of green hydrogen production in the state. It also aims to position Brazil as a leading producer, exporter and distributor of green hydrogen globally. With an abundance of renewable energy resources, Brazil is ranked as one of the top global producers of green energy.
As part of its global partnership with FIA Girls on Track, ABB is set to conduct a robotics workshop during the upcoming São Paulo E-Prix. The workshop, geared towards girls aged 12-18, will introduce participants to basic programming using one of ABB’s collaborative robots, GoFa™.
Also, ABB has released a new video in its FIA Girls on Track video series, which offers a glimpse into the career of Claudia Denni, Formula E’s Sporting Director. The video offers insights into the high-pressure demands of her role, Denni’s career path in motorsport, and the challenges she has surmounted to get to where she is today.
While there are still many challenges ahead for bringing South America into the renewable age with the rest of the world, ABB’s work and outreach efforts with Formula E are going to be part of the solution. With all of the motorsports fans in Brazil, there’s a good chance some of them will develop appreciation for the electric kind!
Featured image provided by ABB.
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