From June 23 to 25, Energy Summit 2026 will serve as the stage for the presentation of three outstanding projects developed by the Embrapii Coppe/UFRJ Unit. The solutions to be showcased at the event, which takes place at Marina da Glória in Rio de Janeiro, feature technologies capable of enabling faster production of offshore equipment, improving safety on oil platforms, and preventing environmental disasters caused by oil spills in the oceans. The projects also aim to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers, increase Brazil’s competitiveness on the international stage, and strengthen the domestic oil and gas industry.

The Energy Summit is a global benchmark in innovation and entrepreneurship in the energy and sustainability sectors. Held in partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), it brings together specialists, leaders, and innovators from around the world to discuss the next steps in the energy transition and sustainable solutions.

Learn more about the projects of the Embrapii Coppe/UFRJ Unit

The Embrapii Coppe/UFRJ Unit is one of the largest engineering teaching and research centers in Latin America and one of the most important players in the fields of innovation, science, and technology in Brazil. Within Embrapii’s innovation network, the institution is accredited in the area of oil and gas engineering, with operations in Upstream (oil and gas exploration and production) and Downstream (refining, natural gas processing, and production of petrochemical derivatives). Its accreditation as an Embrapii Unit brought research groups closer to industry, promoting the advancement of knowledge and innovation in Brazilian companies.

AI supports oil platform safety

Before building and putting an offshore oil platform into operation, it is necessary to test how it will behave under waves, winds, and ocean currents. The project developed in partnership with Petrobras aims to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to make this analysis much faster and more accurate. At the Energy Summit, the public will be able to experience this with the help of virtual reality headsets.

To do this, engineers create scaled-down versions of these structures and carry out tests in large water tanks, simulating real ocean conditions. These experiments generate a huge amount of data, which must be analyzed to ensure the safety and efficiency of the projects.

The technology will create a kind of “digital twin”: a 3D virtual replica of the tested structure, capable of reproducing its behavior under different sea conditions. In addition to visualizing the structure, researchers will be able to instantly access all the data collected during the tests.

The AI will be trained to interpret this data, identify patterns, predict future behavior, and even help prepare technical reports and new engineering projects. The more information it receives, the smarter and more accurate the tool will become.

3D metal printing

A project developed in partnership with Shell is creating an advanced way to print 3D metal parts for use in the oil and gas industry, especially in equipment placed on the seabed. The objective is to replace traditional manufacturing methods, which take longer and generate more waste, in addition to limiting the shape of parts. With 3D metal printing, it is possible to create lighter, stronger components with shapes that would be difficult or even impossible to produce using conventional methods.

Unlike household 3D printers, which use plastic, this technology uses metal wire and electric arc welding to build parts layer by layer. It is as if a robot were “drawing” a metal part in the air, gradually depositing material until the complete component is formed.

Drone detects offshore oil spill

When an oil spill is detected in the ocean, every second makes a difference before the substance spreads. The Ariel project, developed in partnership with Repsol Sinopec Brasil, is an intelligent robotic system capable of identifying offshore oil spills. The technology combines drones, autonomous surface vehicles, local sensors, and remote imaging to monitor the sea in real time. Everything is integrated through advanced detection and data analysis algorithms.

The system also collects meteorological and oceanographic information, such as wind, temperature, and the behavior of ocean currents, increasing detection accuracy and reducing failures. More than simply detecting oil, Ariel represents the advancement of Brazilian science in autonomous solutions for environmental protection and safer operations.

About Embrapii - Embrapii is a social organization that works in cooperation with Scientific and Technological Institutions (ICTs), whether public or private, to serve the business sector and foster innovation in industry. To achieve this, it connects research centers and companies, sharing innovation costs by providing non-repayable funding for projects that lead to the introduction of new products and processes into the market. To access the model, the company must present its technological challenge to the Embrapii Unit whose technical expertise matches the project’s needs.

Embrapii has a management contract with the Federal Government, through the Ministries of Science, Technology and Innovation, Education, Health, and Development, Industry, Trade and Services. In addition, it has partnerships with the Brazilian Micro and Small Business Support Service (Sebrae) and the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES).