Sustainable Development Goals as a Tool to Evaluate Multidimensional Clean Energy Initiatives

Great contributions are expected by the public from science and technology (S&T), especially now, given the highly complex environmental and social challenges such as climate change, cleaner and affordable energy provision and economic crises, among others. These problems require a multidimensional approach involving all stakeholders working together: government, non-governmental organizations, funding agents, companies, academy and society. Based on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) launched in 2015, actions have been carried out to develop capacities for the 2030 Energy Agenda in Brazil. Hence, this work aims to present a case study of the actions being developed in the analysis and integration of clean energy initiatives employing natural gas, biogas, hydrogen and Carbon Capture and Storage of CO₂ (CCS). Particularly, this work focus on the experiences of the Research Centre for Gas Innovation (RCGI), created in 2016 by the University of São Paulo, Shell and the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP). This integration of strategic partnerships that incorporates academy, a private company and a research funding agency is evolving through 46 research projects that aim to contribute with sustainable solutions for the Energy agenda. The Centre is also contributing with the construction of the Social License to Operate for implementing clean energies initiatives and the development of a database and indicators that enable an evaluation of the Centre’s performance, to be made available to all the stakeholders in the framework of the SDGs.