Claudio Albuquerque Frate – Renewable Energy – Research Excellence in Civil and Environmental Engineering Award

Claudio Albuquerque Frate - Renewable Energy - Research Excellence in Civil and Environmental Engineering Award

Federal University of Ceará - Brazil

AUTHOR PROFILE

ORCID

EXPERT IN DECENTRALIZED RENEWABLE ENERGY SYSTEMS

Claudio Albuquerque Frate's research focuses on decentralized renewable energy systems and their complex interactions with institutions, society, and nature. His work emphasizes the integration of low-carbon technologies using quali-quantitative methods to address diverse research questions.

PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS IN BRAZIL

Frate has extensively studied the adoption of photovoltaic systems in multi-unit buildings, examining agents' rationalities for supporting distributed generation diffusion in Brazil. His 2024 publication in Energy Policy highlights key factors influencing the spread of renewable energy in urban settings.

INLAND WATERWAY TRANSPORT

Another significant area of Frate's research is the development of inland waterway transport, particularly in the Brazilian Amazon. His 2023 Q-Method study on the Tocantins River, published in Case Studies on Transport Policy, explores sustainable transport solutions in this ecologically sensitive region.

TECHNO-ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF RENEWABLE ENERGY

Frate's techno-economic analysis of PV-wind-battery systems for remote communities, such as his 2020 case study in Haiti published in Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering, provides insights into the feasibility and impact of renewable energy solutions in isolated areas.

CARBON PAYBACK AND PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER

In his 2020 article in Utilities Policy, Frate conducted a sensitivity analysis of the carbon payback time for a Brazilian photovoltaic power plant. This research underscores the environmental benefits and sustainability metrics of solar energy projects.

JUSTICE IN WIND POWER DEVELOPMENT

Frate has also explored procedural and distributive justice in the context of wind power development. His 2019 study in Energy Policy examines the subjective experiences and perceptions of local communities in Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, regarding wind energy projects.

BARRIERS TO LARGE-SCALE RENEWABLE ENERGY

Understanding stakeholder perspectives on barriers to the adoption of large-scale renewable energy is another key focus of Frate's research. His 2019 and 2017 studies in Energies and Energy Policy, respectively, use Q-Method to reveal the challenges and drivers in the introduction of wind and solar power in Brazil.

ETHANOL AND AGRARIAN REFORM IN BRAZIL

Frate has investigated the social implications of Brazil's ethanol production ambitions on agrarian reform goals. His work highlights the complex interplay between biofuel policies and social equity, providing a nuanced understanding of sustainable development in the agricultural sector.