The Government of Brazil has taken a decisive step to scale industrial energy efficiency nationwide with the official launch of the Transformative Industrial Energy Efficiency Investments Programme (PotencializEE) programme. During an event on 5 February 2026 in Mina Gerais, the Minister of Mines and Energy, Alexandre Silveira, signed a new agreement that expands PotencializEE to the national level, with an initial investment of R$ 75 million for energy audits of the National Service for Industrial Training (SENAI) aimed at supporting micro, small and medium‑sized industrial enterprises across the country. In parallel, the Brazilian government has already invested in expanding the guarantee fund of the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES), improving access to loans for the implementation of energy efficiency measures.
Originally developed with support from the Mitigation Action Facility and implemented by GIZ under coordination with Brazil’s Ministry of Mines and Energy, PotencializEE provides comprehensive support across key stages of industrial energy efficiency. The programme includes training and certification of specialised professionals, identification of companies for diagnostic assessments, and facilitation of access to credit lines that enable the adoption of energy‑efficient solutions.
Scaling efforts of the project
In its first phase, conducted in the state of São Paulo, the programme mobilised R$ 150 million in financing, carried out 1,000 energy assessments in small and medium-sized enterprises, evaluated 400 technically eligible projects, and helped implement 250 energy efficiency investment projects in industrial facilities. This contributed to 1,746 GWh of energy savings and avoided 445,000 tCO₂e in emissions, while developing local capacity through the certification of 450 consultants and training of financial sector professionals.
International climate finance provided through the Mitigation Action Facility and its donor partners was a decisive factor in the successful implementation of the first phase of PotencializEE in São Paulo and in enabling its transition from a pilot initiative to a programme ready for scale-up at national level. The programme illustrates how international support can de-risk early investments, strengthen national institutions, and create the conditions for sustained emission reductions while fostering long-term partnerships aligned with Brazil’s industrial decarbonisation and energy-transition objectives.
The national expansion aims to build on these results by reaching at least 1,500 micro, small and medium‑sized enterprises in the industrial sector by 2027, generating strategic data to inform public policy and further strengthen the competitiveness and energy performance of Brazilian industry. This expansion reinforces Brazil’s ongoing efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and supports the country’s broader climate commitments.
Learn more about the project funded by the Mitigation Action Facility
Our mid‑term Evaluation & Learning factsheet on the PotencializEE project, including results from its first phase and key insights for scaling energy efficiency, is available here:
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