With Alexandre Uhlig, Instituto Acende, Brazil

Who are you?

I am responsible for Sustainable Development at Instituto Acende Brasil since 2006.

Previously I managed the Environmental Department of Companhia Energética de São Paulo (CESP) for fifteen years, where I followed the implementation of large-scale hydroelectric projects and conducted numerous social and environmental programs.

I also consulted for the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and for the International Energy Agency (IEA).

What is Instituto Acende Brasil?

Instituto Acende Brasil is a think tank focused on projects and actions that increase the transparency and sustainability of the Brazilian Electricity Sector. On the basis of facts and figures, Instituto Acende Brasil monitors the sector with long-term lens, providing in-depth analysis of the most important economic, political and institutional issues pertaining to the Brazilian Electricity Sector.

What are the main challenges around communication in Brazil?

The main challenges are language, clarity, availability and quality.

The language used by the sector is often very specialised, making it difficult for outsiders to understand. The information is not sufficiently clear, and subject to risks of misinterpretation by lay professionals.

Information about the sector is difficult to find or not available. And again, when it is available, it is difficult to understand.

What is “Na Trilha da Energia” (On the Energy Trail)?

The "Na Trilha da Energia" documentary is a five-episode series, in a road-movie format. Each episode presents a segment of the itinerary of a long journey, in which the process of generating, transmitting and distributing electricity in Brazil is explained step-by-step using accessible language.

The protagonists are adventuresome, communicative and willing to learn and interact with professionals working in the sector."

The series enables the viewer to dip into power plants, flight over transmission lines, and climb electric-distribution poles. The protagonists are adventuresome, communicative and willing to learn and interact with professionals working in the sector. Issues such as socio-environmental programs for hydroelectric power plants are mentioned in the series.

Throughout the journey in Brazil, the public is invited to ask questions, discover the industry and learn and reflect about their role as energy consumers.

The main audience of the documentary is young people and scholars, but in fact, anybody will likely be interested to see it. The documentary was exhibited at open educational TV channel (TV Cultura) and promoted by social media like Facebook and You Tube. It will be also be shown later this year on a cable channel TV.

To watch the documentary (in portuguese), visit natrilhadaenergia.com.br.