ANEEL sets a 20‑day deadline for electric utilities to propose a governance framework for the Sandbox Energias da Floresta project, aimed at innovation in the Legal Amazon.
The National Electricity Agency (ANEEL) has taken a decisive step toward transforming the energy reality of remote areas in the Legal Amazon. The regulator opened a 20‑day window for electric sector stakeholders to express interest in structuring the collaborative governance of the Sandbox Regulatório Energias da Floresta, an initiative focused on testing innovative solutions for energy access in isolated regions.
This move is backed by Normative Resolution No. 1,166/2026 and its primary goal is to enable a safe regulatory experimentation environment. Through the Superintendency for Innovation and Energy Transition (STE), the agency has made available the technical documents that will guide partnership formation and the execution of Research, Development, and Innovation (RDI) projects essential to overcoming the logistical and geographic bottlenecks of the Amazon region.
Governance structure and open innovation
The management model proposed by ANEEL is divided into two fundamental pillars. The first is a Management Core, which will have executive responsibility for running the day‑to‑day operations of the initiative, managing the pilot portfolio, and consolidating data extracted from the experiences. In parallel, an Open Innovation Hub will act as the connective engine, bringing together companies, universities, traditional communities, and civil society organizations.
The intention is to integrate the technical expertise of large corporations with the territorial and social wisdom of local communities, ensuring that the tested solutions are truly effective.
“The proposal is to incorporate technical and territorial knowledge into the design, execution, and evaluation of pilot projects, ensuring that innovation respects the socioeconomic and environmental particularities of the region.”
Company Participation and Next Steps
Interested companies may submit their expressions of interest individually or in cooperative arrangements. The focus of ANEEL in encouraging collaboration is to bring together complementary skills, such as data management, field operations, and project facilitation. Even organizations that have not yet identified partners can present their capabilities and experiences for future connection with other stakeholders.
It is important to note that the expression of interest is preparatory. After the 20‑day deadline, the agency will review the received proposals and may coordinate the formation of consortia, ensuring that the process follows principles of equality. The next step will be the submission of the consolidated PDI project to the agency’s Board of Directors.
This initiative by ANEEL signals an important path for the future of Brazil’s electric sector. By allowing solutions to be tested in a controlled environment, the agency hopes to gather robust evidence that can support the improvement of national regulation, making the energy service more inclusive and adapted to the complex realities of the Amazônia. In the coming days, an informational webinar will be conducted by the technical team to clarify questions from potential partners.