Reliable data plays an integral role in energy transition policies, from providing policy makers with key insights to building trust among key stakeholders.
Johanna Castellanos, Rice University Fulbright Scholar (2021-22), is leading the development of Colombia’s information hub—a tool that equips national and local leaders to make decisions that drive mining and energy policies and planning and supports the country's equitable energy transition.
While at Rice, Castellanos worked in the lab of César Uribe, Louis Owen Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering, on energy optimization techniques and sustainable energy solutions to benefit her native Colombia.
Since completing her fellowship at Rice, Castellanos has worked as an advisor in Colombia’s Ministry of Mines and Energy and now serves as the deputy director of information management at Unidad de Planeación Minero Energética (UPME), the Unit of Mining and Energy Planning.
As one of six ministry agencies, UPME acts as the planner and the chief information officer for all mining and energy entities nationwide. UPME recruited Castellanos to elevate the level of information management by developing new strategies for analyzing and communicating data from the mining and energy sectors and their economic, social and environmental impacts.
One strategy that Castellanos has spearheaded is the creation of the mines and energy sector’s Sectoral Geoportal (GPS) integration hub, connecting geographic information through web services in a single platform for decision makers and citizens. It features dashboards with 120 sources of information, viewers, services and data with download options in different formats from the Ministry of Mines and Energy and its affiliated agencies.
This new information hub helps drive the energy transition by allowing UPME to provide reliable annual reports for government leadership and international entities. “With this method, decision makers can have good quality data for deciding the future of projects, and they can access information in real time,” said Castellanos.
In addition to providing valuable reports for national and international leaders, UPME’s interactive portals make data transparent, accessible and decipherable to local leaders who are not data experts—particularly, rural and indigenous leaders who need to develop strategies for their own local territories. Input from these stakeholders was critical in developing the geoportal interactive platforms and tools.
“We need to understand the needs from all different regions, including ethnic and cultural perspectives, and include them in our information system,” said Castellanos. “This is how we are determining a better way for meeting the needs of the diverse communities.”
Castellanos launched the geoportal at La FEV (Feria de las Economías para la Vida), a conference that drove Colombia’s clean energy economy by mobilizing national projects related to the energy transition, Oct. 2–4, 2024. At La FEV, she also led the first conference on Artificial Intelligence for the Just Energy Transition. Conference participants included prominent energy companies, governmental entities, NGOs and citizens.
Additionally, Castellanos led the development of an interactive geo-viewer of South America's electricity and gas infrastructure, together with The Latin-American Energy Organization (OLADE), to contribute to the materialization of regional energy integration.
Castellanos also leads UPME’s strategy on university partnerships. Named Pacto por la Transición Energética Justa Intensiva en Conocimiento (Pact for a Knowledge-Intensive Fair Energy Transition), the program leverages faculty research to improve the nation’s transmission system.
“The idea is that their research can apply to real life in our government,” said Castellanos. UPME has published more than 25 studies to date with universities and other institutions.
Castellanos’ work is inspired by her deep dedication to serving the people of Colombia. “I am happy with my job because I can help my country and add mi granito de arena—my tiny grain of sand—to the energy sector in my country.”