Master Student Engineering or Natural Sciences or similar (f/m/x) - Analysis of sectoral transition pathways for Brazil

Start your career with an exciting master thesis in the field of energy systems analysis. The Institute for Networked Energy Systems employs around 185 people at its sites in Oldenburg and Stuttgart. In the Energy Scenarios and Technology Assessment group of the Energy Systems Analysis department, we develop and evaluate energy scenarios and conduct multidimensional assessments of energy technologies by examining economic, ecological, technical and social aspects and combining the results into an overall picture that supports decision-making.

On 8 December 2020, Brazil submitted to the UN (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change) its new Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under the Paris Agreement. Brazil’s NDC targets to reduce total net greenhouse gas emissions by 37% in 2025 and by 43% in 2030 (compared to 2005), and indicates the objective of achieving climate neutrality (net-zero emissions) in 2060. In March 2022, the NDC was updated in the context of the Glasgow Climate Pact during the 26th Conference of the Parties to the targets 37% in 2025 and by 50% in 2030 and climate neutrality in 2050. The master thesis will deal with benchmarks in the energy system analysis that has been and is being used as a basis for the definition of the Brazilian NDC.

• In the first step, you will compile and review existing studies on possible and proposed transformation paths in Brazil with the focus on individual options and measures in the industry and energy sectors.
• In a second step, you compare results with the state of knowledge on sectoral best practice options and methods derived from existing transition strategies to achieve the Paris goals. For this purpose, you can use results of the ongoing research project NDC ASPECTS and additional results from your literature analysis.
• In the next step you parametrize and use an existing scenario model to develop and quantitatively outline a sectoral transformation path for Brazil, based on defined CO2 emission targets and using sectoral information on technical and regulatory options.
• The result is a comparative assessment of transformation processes conceivable from a technical point of view, as well as the paths considered feasible for the Brazilian energy system in previous studies.

The work supports an international research project, which offers you ideal networking conditions with the energy research community.