TAGs: #industrial automation #PLC #DCS #control systems #factory automation #decarbonisation #Brazil industry #Schneider Electric #green hydrogen #workforce electrification
Brazil’s industrial automation shift meets decarbonisation drive
At the Schneider Electric‑led initiative at COP30 in Belém, Brazil emerges as a pivotal terrain for industrial automation and decarbonisation. The company, together with the Brazilian Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade and Services (MDIC), launched new research modelling how factory automation — including advanced PLC, DCS, and smart electrification — can drive up to 60 % emissions reductions by 2050.
In practice, this means industries from steel and cement to chemical manufacturing must integrate more factory automation and control systems, not only for productivity but for decarbonisation. I believe this trend underlines that automation is no longer a cost‑only strategy—it is a key pillar in low‑carbon industrial competitiveness.
Electrification, digitalisation and control systems at the heart of transformation
The research outlines a “high‑ambition” pathway wherein electricity’s share of final energy consumption in Brazil climbs from about 18 % today to nearly 60 % by 2050. As a result, fossil fuel use drops to 16 %. This shift hinges on large‑scale adoption of automation technologies and modern control systems within industrial settings.
Leveraging factory automation platforms to monitor energy flows, optimise production, and implement predictive control enables industries to decouple output growth from emissions. From my experience working with manufacturers deploying DCS systems, the transition to digital control yields operational and environmental benefits—fewer unplanned shutdowns, lower energy waste, and better integration with renewable inputs.
Brazil’s strategic assets support automation‑driven decarbonisation
Brazil enjoys a clean and diversified energy matrix, abundant natural resources, and a green‑hydrogen opportunity that positions it uniquely to become a low‑carbon industrial hub. However, having resources isn’t enough. Brazil must scale infrastructure, integrate digital automation technologies, and build robust control systems to capture competitive value.
In industrial automation terms, this means integrating PLC/DCS networks, edge computing, and connectivity in factories to adapt to fluctuating renewable supply, green hydrogen use, and flexible operations. Companies in other emerging markets should watch how Brazil combines factory automation with energy transition—it may serve as a blueprint.
Skilled workforce is critical — automation and traceability in focus
Beyond hardware and control systems, Schneider Electric’s research projects up to 760,000 new bioenergy‑related jobs by 2030 in Brazil, and the reskilling of about 450,000 professionals in automation, electrification, and carbon‑traceability systems. For factory automation practitioners, this presents a major opportunity—and a challenge: ensuring DCS and PLC technologies are deployed and monitored by a competent, digitally skilled workforce.
In my observation, companies often deploy advanced automation but neglect workforce readiness, limiting system value. Therefore, building talent in digital control systems, energy‑automation integration, and traceability is just as important as installing the equipment.
Public–private collaboration and control systems integration
Industrial decarbonisation will succeed only if public policy, infrastructure investment, and private sector automation efforts align. For industrial automation firms and OEMs, faster adoption of DCS/PLC and integrated control systems depends on enabling environments: grid access, smart‑factory readiness, regulatory clarity.
Vendors and integrators should expect greater demand for factory automation platforms that integrate energy‑use monitoring, control‑systems analytics, and digital twins aligned with decarbonisation KPIs. This is a ripe moment for industrial automation players to pitch “automation + decarbonisation” as a combined value proposition.
Application scenarios – factory automation meets decarbonisation
Scenario 1: Steel manufacturing plant
A Brazilian steel mill replaces legacy analog controls with modern PLC/DCS architecture, links it with an energy‑management system, harnesses surplus renewable electricity, and phases out fossil‑fuel based heat. Automation enables better scheduling, predictive maintenance, and dynamic load balancing—reducing CO₂ emissions and increasing throughput.
Scenario 2: Chemical plant electrification and traceability
A chemical‑processing facility implements digital control systems to monitor real‑time emissions, integrate electrolyser‑based green hydrogen, and deploy advanced automation for process loops. As a result, the factory meets stricter carbon‑traceability requirements, uses DCS architectures to optimise feedstock, and positions itself as export‑ready for low‑carbon materials.
Scenario 3: Workforce development in automation
A consortium led by Schneider Electric offers training modules for technicians in PLC programming, SCADA setup, industrial IoT connectivity, and carbon‑traceability parameter monitoring. This ensures that the human side keeps pace with the technology side—a key to realising the control‑systems and automation benefits.
Author’s outlook and recommendations for automation sector
From my vantage point, the industrial automation sector stands at a defining inflection: factory automation (PLC/DCS/control systems) is no longer just about productivity—it is core to decarbonisation strategy. Here are three recommendations:
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Integrate control systems with energy‑transition goals
Automation vendors should embed energy‑use analytics and decarbonisation metrics into PLC/DCS offerings. That will make their value case stronger in markets like Brazil. -
Build workforce solutions early
Offer training and consultancy on how to deploy automation in an electrified, low‑carbon environment. Firms that lead on skills will win longer‑term. -
Partner in policy and infrastructure contexts
Automation players should engage with government and industry associations to shape standards and frameworks that enable wide‑scale DCS/PLC deployment aligned with decarbonisation.
In conclusion, Brazil’s case under COP30 shows how factory automation, control systems, and industrial digitisation align with deep decarbonisation. For the automation industry, this is an opportunity to elevate its role from efficiency enabler to strategic partner in the green transition.
Application Cases / Solution Scenarios
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Implementation of PLC/DCS integration with renewable‑energy supply and flexibility in heavy‑industry plants
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Deployment of SCADA systems for carbon‑traceability and real‑time emissions monitoring in manufacturing operations
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Workforce training programmes focusing on electrification, automation, industrial IoT, and process control as part of decarbonisation projects