Hydrogen and renewable energy infrastructures are central to current debates on transport decarbonisation and regional transition. Their rollout depends on more than technological progress. Safety arrangements, governance frameworks, energy mix and the economic conditions under which firms, communities and public authorities engage with these systems will determine whether early pilots translate into durable infrastructure.
This brown bag seminar gathers researchers from Nord University, UiT The Arctic University of Norway and the University of Campinas (UNICAMP) for four short presentations and a discussion. The talks examine material politics and solar energy futures in Brazil, comparative CO₂ emissions across European and Latin American energy systems, hydrogen as fuel in Norwegian ferries with attention to adoption-supporting policies, and the safety of hydrogen as a renewable fuel under arctic infrastructure conditions. The seminar places Arctic and Latin American settings in the same conversation, so that comparative analysis can sharpen what we know about how regional contexts shape the design of future energy systems.
Practical information
- Format: Brown bag seminar with four short presentations of about 12 minutes each, followed by questions and discussion
- Organizers: Nord Arctic Network and Nordlab
- Language: English
- Connected initiative: Erasmus+ Global Mobility // Nordforsk initiative on hydrogen
Program
| Time | Activity |
| 11:00–11:05 | Welcome and introduction// Roberto Rivas Hermann |
| 11:05–11:20 | Jean Carlos Hochsprung Miguel. Material politics and energy futures: the case of solar energy in Brazil |
| 11:20–11:35 | Ana Vassileva Borissova. From hydrogen storage to system-level emissions: a comparative CO₂ analysis across European and Latin American energy systems |
| 11:35–11:50 | Mohamad Mustafa. Safety of hydrogen as a renewable fuel: arctic infrastructure and cross-regional perspectives |
| 11:50–12:00 | Questions and discussion |
Material politics and energy futures: the case of solar energy in Brazil
Speaker: Jean Carlos Hochsprung Miguel (UNICAMP, Brazil)
The global energy transition relies on renewables for decarbonisation, but rarely accounts for the political dimensions of these resource flows. Based on the expansion of solar infrastructure in Brazil, this talk analyses the sociomaterial conflicts and sociotechnical imaginaries produced by these shifts, arguing that infrastructure transformation is a site where future energy landscapes are negotiated and framed.
From hydrogen storage to system-level emissions: a comparative CO₂ analysis across European and Latin American energy systems
Speaker: Ana Vassileva Borissova (Nord University)
This talk presents research on hydrogen storage, including different storage approaches and the off-board concept. The question of hydrogen versus electric mobility is used as a starting point for a broader comparison. The analysis focuses on passenger vehicles, with results from European and Latin American countries that show how different energy mixes influence overall CO₂ emissions.
Safety of hydrogen as a renewable fuel: arctic infrastructure and cross-regional perspectives
Speaker: Mohamad Mustafa (UiT The Arctic University of Norway)
This presentation discusses the safety of hydrogen as a renewable fuel, with attention to arctic infrastructure and the technical conditions under which production, storage and use can be made safe in cold-climate and remote settings. Drawing on work on hydrogen production from wind energy in Narvik, fuel cell design, and recent research on AI-driven approaches to hydrogen safety, the talk asks what arctic experience can offer to cross-regional comparison, including with Latin American settings where energy mix and infrastructure conditions differ.
Jean Carlos Hochsprung Miguel
Professor in the Department of Science and Technology Policy at the Institute of Geosciences, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Brazil. His research focuses on science and technology studies, energy and climate governance, sustainability transitions and sociotechnical systems. He works on solar energy governance, distributed generation, responsible mineral supply chains and the science-policy interface, with attention to Global South perspectives.
Ana Vassileva Borissova
Associate Professor at Nord University, Faculty of Education and Arts, Bodø. Her academic background is in hydrogen storage, solid-state electrochemistry and material characterization. Her contribution to the seminar bridges hydrogen storage, energy systems and comparative analysis of CO₂ emissions across different energy mixes.
Mohamad Mustafa
Professor at the Department of Building, Energy and Material Technology, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, based in Narvik. His research covers hydrogen and fuel cell technology, renewable energy systems and energy infrastructure for cold climates and arctic conditions. Recent work includes AI-driven approaches to hydrogen safety, hydrogen production from wind energy in northern Norway, and comparative studies of zero-emission transport across European energy systems.
Roberto Rivas Hermann (Moderator)
Professor of Innovation and Sustainable Organization at Nord University Business School. His research focuses on innovation, sustainability transitions, maritime logistics, green innovation strategies, environmental governance, regional development and sustainability in management education. He is Arctic Six Chair 2025–2026.
