Cepel

What Cepel does

Cepel (Centro de Pesquisas de Energia Elétrica), founded in 1974 and headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, is the primary research, development and innovation institution for the Brazilian electricity sector, operating as a private non-profit founded by companies of the AXIA Energia group (formerly Eletrobras). It builds and maintains the official ANEEL-authorized computational models — DESSEM, NEWAVE, DECOMP, ANAREDE, ANATEM, GEVAZP — that ONS and CCEE use for daily dispatch, stability assessment, hydrological scenario generation and PLD price settlement for the Sistema Interligado Nacional. Beyond planning and operation software, Cepel delivers an integrated asset management stack (SOMA, GAMMA, DIANE, IMA, IMA-SCAN, IMA-DP, MIDAS), sustainability and emissions software (EMISFERA, METRIA, IGS), and operational control center systems (SAGE), supported by the Adrianópolis laboratory complex for high-voltage, high-power and smart-grid testing that the company describes as unique in Latin America.

Cepel monetizes primarily through a tiered associate membership program (Associados Fundadores and Associados Especiais) that grants discounted access to its products, services, laboratory tests and training, with contributions from Associados Especiais qualifying as regulatory R&D credits under Brazil's Lei 9.991/2000 updated by Lei 14.182/2021. Supplementary revenue comes from software licensing and maintenance, paid laboratory testing and certification, technical training programs, and project-based funding from regulated R&D obligations directed by member companies. Distribution is direct and institution-led: ONS and CCEE receive officially authorized models, member utilities use Cepel's tools via the associate program, and equipment manufacturers access Adrianópolis testing on a fee basis.

The company is at the center of a broader ecosystem that includes strategic co-development with AXIA Energia (Neocloud AI infrastructure, METRIA, UHE Porto Colombia monitoring, green hydrogen steel project with GIZ), technology partnerships with NVIDIA and Voith Hydro, and ongoing academic and international cooperation ties. Recent strategic moves include the launch of Brazil's first Neocloud AI infrastructure (scaling to 96 NVIDIA H200 GPUs by March 2026), the METRIA emissions platform (March 2026), ANEEL authorization of DESSEM v22 (January 2026), and a high public profile at SNPTEE 2025 with 5 honorable mentions and more than 30 technical presentations.

Name

Cepel

Legal name

Centro de Pesquisas de Energia Elétrica

Website

https://cepel.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

1974

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Cepel is a Brazilian non-profit electricity research center (founded 1974, Rio de Janeiro) that develops ANEEL-authorized power-system computational models (DESSEM, NEWAVE, DECOMP, ANAREDE, ANATEM), asset management and sustainability software, and laboratory services for ONS, CCEE, AXIA Energia group utilities, Cemig, ISA Energia and other Brazilian sector companies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Power System Software and Energy Research Services

NAICS

Electric Power Transmission, Control, and Distribution (22112), Instrument Manufacturing for Measuring and Testing Electricity and Electrical Signals (334515), Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211)

SIC

Instruments For Meas & Testing Of Electricity & Elec Signals (3825), Switchgear & Switchboard Apparatus (3613), Electric Services (4911)

akta.pro primary industry

Power Plant I&C / SCADA / DCS EPC (EUAEAAAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Testing, Commissioning & Energization Services (HV) (EUAEABAI), High-Voltage Electrical Systems (Switchgear, Transformers, Protection & Control) (EUAEAFAA), DER Compliance, Certification & Testing (Commissioning, Ride-Through) (EUADALAN), Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) & Clean Energy Standards Compliance (EUAMANAF)

Keywords

• Power system modeling
• Hydrothermal dispatch software
• High voltage testing
• Asset monitoring systems
• Electricity sector research

Headquarters

HQ city

Rio De Janeiro

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Annual Contributions from Associate Members (Associados): Member companies (Associados Fundadores and Associados Especiais) make annual contributions to fund Cepel's R&D activities. Associates receive benefits including discounted access to products, services, lab tests, and training. Contributions from Associados Especiais can be used as regulatory P&D credits under Brazilian law (Lei 9.991/2000, updated by Lei 14.182/2021).
2. Product Licensing and Software Sales: Sale of licenses for computational programs (ANAREDE, ANATEM, DESSEM, NEWAVE, DECOMP, etc.) to sector companies. Revenue also comes from software maintenance and renewal fees.
3. Laboratory Services and Field Tests: High-voltage, high-power, and smart grid laboratory testing services provided to manufacturers, utilities, and technology developers. Revenue generated through service fees and accreditation-related testing.
4. Technical Training Programs: Technical training in computational programs and research activities offered to sector professionals and students at discounted rates for students.
5. Regulated R&D Project Funding (ANEEL P&D): Funding for specific R&D projects under ANEEL regulation. Companies can direct their P&D regulatory obligations (Lei 9.991/2000) to Cepel projects, providing additional project-based revenue.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Cepel develops, maintains, and licenses ANEEL-authorized computational models for the Brazilian electricity sector (including DESSEM, NEWAVE, DECOMP, ANAREDE, ANATEM for power system planning and hydrothermal dispatch). It also provides high-voltage laboratory testing services, asset monitoring and predictive maintenance platforms, sustainability/GHG emissions tools, and technical training programs, primarily delivered through an associate membership model to electric utilities, generators, system operators, and equipment manufacturers.

Product overview

Cepel offers a comprehensive portfolio of computational products and services for the Brazilian power sector, organized as specialized software tools, integrated management platforms, and laboratory/testing services. The core products include power system simulation and planning models (DESSEM, NEWAVE, DECOMP, ANAREDE, ANATEM, GEVAZP) that form the analytical foundation for Brazil's electricity sector operations. These are complemented by asset management platforms (SOMA, GAMMA, DIANE, IMA, IMA-SCAN) and sustainability tools (EMISFERA, METRIA, IGS). The SAGE energy management system provides operational control center capabilities. Recent additions include the Neocloud AI infrastructure for AI workloads. All products are delivered as software tools, laboratory services, and technical training, with access through associated member companies and direct client engagements.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• DESSEM Computational Model
• NEWAVE Computational Model
• DECOMP Computational Model
• ANAREDE Computational Model
• ANATEM Computational Model
• GEVAZP Model
• SAGE Energy Optimization System
• SOMA Asset Monitoring Platform
• IMA-SCAN Testing Equipment
• METRIA Emissions Platform
• EMISFERA Emissions Tool
• IGS Sustainability Indicators System
• Neocloud AI Infrastructure
• GAMMA Asset Management Toolkit
• DIANE Predictive Diagnostics System
• IMA-DP Monitoring System
• High-Voltage Laboratory Testing Services
• Technical Training Programs

Quantifiable outcome

• DESSEM v22 authorized by ANEEL (Despacho nº 204, January 2026) for PLD calculation and SIN dispatch programming
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability10 records

Feature16 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, strategic, minor and supporting.

• AXIA EnergiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAXIA Energia is the founding group of Cepel, established in 1974. The relationship has evolved into deep co-development: joint development of the first Neocloud in Latin America (NVIDIA H200 GPUs), METRIA emissions platform, UHE Porto Colombia monitoring system, green hydrogen steel decarbonization project, Rio AI City initiative with Rio de Janeiro city government, and AXIA's Eletro.IA program. Alexandre Orth serves as both director of PDI at AXIA and director general of Cepel, representing shared leadership.
• Voith HydrostrategicTechnology or IntegrationPartnership for real-time monitoring at UHE Porto Colombia. Voith Hydro provided the data acquisition solution, while Cepel conducted system homologation, calibration, integration, and commissioning. The solution monitors vibration and partial discharges, integrated into Cepel's SOMA platform.
• GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCepel and AXIA Energia partnered with GIZ on a pioneering green steel project using green hydrogen to decarbonize the steel industry in Brazil — the first Brazilian initiative for low-emission steel using green hydrogen. GIZ provides international cooperation framework and technical expertise.
• O Setor Elétrico (CINASE Organizer)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerCepel participates as institutional supporter (apoiador institucional) of the CINASE circuit (Circuito Nacional do Setor Elétrico), with a dedicated exhibition stand and participation in panels. CINASE is a major Brazilian electricity sector conference and trade show.
• Universities and Research InstitutionsstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCepel maintains partnerships with universities and research institutions for joint research, academic training (bolsas/scholarships), and knowledge dissemination. The NZEB Space (Espaço NZEB) and training programs serve as academic outreach mechanisms. The Neocloud provides GPU capacity to universities and research institutions.
• RADIX (Technology Company)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCepel collaborated with RADIX and AXIA Energia in Hackathon 2025, where participants developed AI solutions to identify load patterns and distributed generation using computer vision.
• NVIDIAsupportingTechnology or IntegrationNVIDIA is the GPU provider for the Neocloud infrastructure developed by Cepel and AXIA. The NVIDIA H200 GPUs form the computational backbone of the first Latin American Neocloud dedicated to AI and HPC workloads.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• EPRI (Electric Power Research Institute): U.S.-based non-profit energy research consortium performing R&D for the electricity sector. Directly comparable mission (industry-funded R&D, computational modeling, lab testing, technology development) for a major national electricity system.
• PSR (Power Systems Research): Brazilian energy consulting and software firm that developed the SDDP hydrothermal dispatch model — a direct functional competitor to Cepel's NEWAVE/DECOMP family within Brazil.
• Energy Exemplar (PLEXOS): Global provider of energy market simulation software (PLEXOS) used for production cost modeling and hydrothermal dispatch — directly overlapping with Cepel's DESSEM/NEWAVE use cases.
• DIgSILENT: Provider of PowerFactory power system simulation software for transmission, distribution, and industrial networks — overlapping with Cepel's ANAREDE and ANATEM offerings.
• CESI (Centro Elettrotecnico Sperimentale Italiano): Italian power systems research and testing laboratory offering HV lab services, power system consulting, and modeling — comparable to Cepel's combined software + lab testing model.
• KEMA Labs: Independent testing and certification laboratory for high-voltage and smart-grid equipment — comparable to Cepel's Adrianópolis HV/High Power/Smart Grid lab infrastructure.
• Fraunhofer IEE (Institut für Energiewirtschaft und Energiesystemtechnik): German applied research institute focused on energy economics, grid integration of renewables, and energy system modeling — mission and activity overlap with Cepel's research mandate.

Broad incumbents

• DNV (Energy Systems): Global energy advisory, testing, and certification firm offering power system consulting, renewable integration studies, and software tools — broader portfolio but overlapping with Cepel's services.
• Hitachi Energy (formerly Hitachi-ABB Power Grids / ABB): Major power T&D equipment and grid software vendor with overlapping asset management, substation monitoring, and grid software capabilities (e.g., Lumada APM) — broader portfolio, partial overlap.

Regional players

• RTE International (subsidiary of RTE, the French TSO): International consultancy arm of France's transmission system operator, offering grid operations, market design, and power system modeling expertise — comparable to Cepel's TSO-facing modeling work but geographically distinct.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/CepelOficial
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCTVJVK9YYsDwssLAlfdFb3Q
• Facebookfacebook.com/OficialCepel
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cepel
• Instagraminstagram.com/cepeloficial

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cepel