Dr. Cristiane Carvalho, a researcher at SERC Chile and a faculty member at the University of Magallanes, completed an internship at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand to strengthen scientific cooperation in energy planning and climate change adaptation in both countries.
As part of the international collaboration between Chile and New Zealand on sustainable energy, Dr. Cristiane Carvalho, a researcher at SERC Chile and faculty member at the University of Magallanes (UMAG), completed an internship at the Sustainable Energy Research Group (SERG) at the University of Canterbury (UC), led by Professors Jannik Haas and Rebecca Peer.
The academic visit, which took place in October 2025, was intended to strengthen scientific cooperation in energy planning, systems modeling, and the evaluation of energy transition scenarios among SERG, SERC Chile, and UMAG. The initiative was funded by the Ingeniería 2030 project of the Autonomous University of Chile and the University of Magallanes, and it became part of SERC Chile’s international collaboration network.
During her internship, Dr. Carvalho gained in-depth knowledge of the energy planning models developed by the SERG group—such as PyPSA, Remix, and Homer—analyzing their applications to the New Zealand context and exploring parallels with the Punta Arenas power system, an isolated system whose energy planning is the main focus of her current research project.
“This internship is part of my transition into academia, where I’m working on energy planning for the Punta Arenas system. The internship gave me the opportunity to learn about the work led by Jannik Haas and Rebecca Peer at the Sustainable Energy Research Group, who are developing long-term models for the planning and operation of electric power systems through 2050, with the goal of transforming New Zealand’s energy mix,” explained Dr. Carvalho.
Sharing Experiences
During her stay, the researcher also had the opportunity to interact with doctoral students working on life-cycle analysis and technology foresight, applying energy modeling results to assess the environmental and social impacts of changes in energy mixes.
“The experience was very valuable in helping me plan my upcoming six-month internship next year, during which I plan to incorporate tools such as PyPSA and life-cycle analysis into my research. I sought not only to address the technical and economic aspects of the energy transition in Magallanes, but also to integrate the social and environmental dimensions that accompany this process,” she added.
Dr. Carvalho also participated in the Adaptation Futures 2025 International Conference, held in Christchurch, where global strategies for resilience and adaptation to climate change were discussed.
“It was an enriching experience. I was able to learn how researchers and communities—especially Indigenous peoples—are working on climate change adaptation processes. Although it wasn’t an area directly related to my line of work, it allowed me to delve deeper into issues of resilience and stay up to date on international developments,” the researcher noted.
This collaboration strengthens ties between Chile and New Zealand in the areas of energy research and climate adaptation, solidifying SERC Chile’s role as a facilitator of knowledge networks and international cooperation.
