Blockchain in the brazilian electric sector: challenges of Permissionless Innovation

Authors

  • Eduardo Espínola Pimazzoni Universidade Nove de Julho
  • Claúdia Brito Silva Cirani Universidade Nove de Julho
  • Fernando Antônio Serra Universidade Nove de Julho
  • Isabel Cristina Scafuto Universidade Nove de Julho
  • Ana Cândida Ferreira Vieira Universidade Nove de Julho
  • Priscila Rezende da Costa Universidade Nove de Julho

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20401/rasi.11.3.1003

Keywords:

Blockchain; Energy; Innovation; Barriers; Permissionless innovation theory.

Abstract

Among the numerous sectors of the economy in which blockchain technology is already present, the electricity sector stands out as one of the most promising for its adoption. Although still not widely known by many, this technology is already being applied in areas where challenges find more viable solutions through its use. However, the energy sector is highly complex and regulated, which often hinders the adoption of new technologies, limiting opportunities and restricting the development of new businesses that could benefit from blockchain.

This study aims to demonstrate how blockchain technology can be applied to the brazilian energy sector, considering the following research question: How do companies in the brazilian electricity sector address the challenges of adopting and using blockchain technology? The methodology used was an exploratory study based on interviews with industry experts and executives, covering five companies of small, medium, and large sizes operating in Brazil and abroad, with cases of blockchain technology applicability. The results obtained highlight the difficulties and challenges faced by companies in Brazil when implementing blockchain in the energy sector. The analysis was conducted in light of the permissionless innovation theory, emphasizing the impacts of criticism and regulations that often hinder the advancement and adoption of this technology in the sector.

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Author Biographies

Eduardo Espínola Pimazzoni, Universidade Nove de Julho

Master's in Business Administration from UNINOVE, specializing in Innovation. Bachelor's degree in Social Communication - Advertising and Publicity from Universidade Anhembi Morumbi (1994). Postgraduate in Networking and Internet from CompuCollege, Vancouver - Canada. MBA in Project Management from FIAP. Blockchain Researcher & Innovation Officer at Cyclicus. Experienced in the field of Computer Science, with a focus on Information Technology, mainly working on the following topics: blockchain, energy, innovation, infrastructure, projects, privacy intelligence, and information security.

Claúdia Brito Silva Cirani , Universidade Nove de Julho

Ph.D. in Applied Economics from the Luiz de Queiroz College of Agriculture / University of São Paulo - ESALQ / USP (2009), Master’s in Applied Economics from the Federal University of Viçosa (2005), and Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the State University of Londrina (2003). She is a faculty member of the Graduate Program in Business Administration at Universidade Nove de Julho - PPGA / UNINOVE (CAPES Rating 6). She has experience in Management, with an emphasis on Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Sustainable Business, mainly working in the areas of technological management and innovation, emotional management in organizations, innovation, and mindfulness.

Fernando Antônio Serra, Universidade Nove de Julho

Ph.D. in Engineering from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (2003). He completed his postdoctoral work in Organizational Decline at FEA/USP and in Strategy at IPL (Portugal). He is a professor in the Graduate Program in Business Administration and the Graduate Program in Project Management at Universidade Nove de Julho - UNINOVE. He is an associate editor of the journal Management Research and the Revista de Administração de Empresas - RAE. He was editor of the Revista Ibero-Americana de Estratégia - RIAE. He leads the research line in Decision-Making and Strategic Management (TDE) at UNINOVE's Graduate Program in Business Administration (PPGA). He was the coordinator of the ESO - Business Strategy Division at ANPAD for the 2021-2023 term and a member of the ANPAD Test Committee from 2022 to 2024. He also directed the academic area at HSM.

Isabel Cristina Scafuto , Universidade Nove de Julho

Ph.D. in Business Administration from Universidade Nove de Julho (2017). Master’s in Language Sciences from Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina (2011). Specialist in Event Management and Planning from Universidade do Vale do Itajaí (2007). Holds a Bachelor’s degree in Tourism - Tourism Management from Universidade do Sul de Santa Catarina (2005). Currently, she is a Professor and Researcher in the Graduate Program in Project Management - PPGP at Universidade Nove de Julho - UNINOVE. She leads the Strategy and Projects Research Line and Group at PPGP. She is Co-editor of the International Journal of Innovation (IJI). She is part of the organizing committee of SINGEP (International Symposium on Project Management, Innovation, and Sustainability). She leads the topic "Strategies and Projects" in the ESO division of ANPAD and also leads the theme "Innovation: Integrated Approaches for Projects and Processes" in the Innovation Management area at Semead.

Ana Cândida Ferreira Vieira, Universidade Nove de Julho

Doutoranda em Administração pela Universidade Nove de Julho (UNINOVE), São Paulo, com período de doutorado sanduíche na Universidade Lusófona, em Lisboa, Portugal, com apoio da CAPES. Mestre em Economia pela Universidade Federal de Campina Grande (UFCG, 2002) e MBA Executivo em Gestão, com ênfase em Gestão Financeira, pela Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV, 2022). Bacharel em Ciências Econômicas pela Universidade Federal da Paraíba (UFPB, 2000). Professora Adjunta IV, com dedicação exclusiva, no Departamento de Ciências Sociais Aplicadas (DCSA) da Universidade Federal da Paraíba (UFPB), Campus IV, Litoral Norte. Integra o Grupo de Pesquisa do CNPq na linha de Estratégia de Inovação do PPGA/UNINOVE/SP.

Priscila Rezende da Costa, Universidade Nove de Julho

Ph.D. in Business Administration from the University of São Paulo, FEA USP, 2012. Master’s in Business Administration from the University of São Paulo, FEA RP USP, 2007. Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the Federal University of Lavras, UFLA, 2005. Currently, she is the Director of the Graduate Program in Business Administration at Universidade Nove de Julho, PPGA UNINOVE (rated 6 in the latest CAPES quadrennial evaluation), and a professor in the Master's and Ph.D. courses in Business Administration, in the Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Sustainable Business (IEN) line. She is also a permanent professor in the Graduate Program in Project Management (PPGP) at UNINOVE and chairs the Local Monitoring and Evaluation Committee (CLAA) of the Tutorial Education Program (PET). She was Coordinator of the Undergraduate Business Administration Program at UNINOVE from 2010 to 2014 and served on the Research Ethics Committee from 2022 to 2023. She is part of the Organizing Committee of SINGEP CIK, an international event promoted by UNINOVE in partnership with the CIK research institute - USA. She is the Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Innovation (IJI), Associate Editor of Innovation Management Review (IMR), and Associate Editor of the IEEE Engineering Management Review. She contributes to the theme of Innovation, Startups, Entrepreneurship, and Small Organizations at EGEPE. She leads the theme of Entrepreneurship and Creative Economy at the XV International Symposium ESPM. She was the leader of the theme Innovation and Digital Transformation in Organizations in Emerging Markets of the Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship (ITE) Academic Division at ANPAD (2018 - 2022). She leads the theme of Socio-Environmental Management and Innovation at EMPRAD (USP). She is a member of the scientific committee of the Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship (ITE) Academic Division at ANPAD. She is a member of the ANPAD Executive Committee and serves on the scientific committee of the International Forum on Management - IFM (Polytechnic Institute of Setúbal, Portugal). She is the leader of a CNPq Research Group titled Innovation Strategy, and within this group, she coordinated research projects funded by CAPES.

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Published

2025-09-01

Issue

Vol. 11 No. 3 (2025): Set./Dez., 2025

Section

Scientific papers

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