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Energy Transition Academy 2026 for Latin America and the Caribbean: Free Online Programme, Certification and Application Guide

Emmanuel Mensah
Energy Transition Academy 2026 for Latin America and the Caribbean: Free Online Programme, Certification and Application Guide
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Applications are open for the 2026 Energy Transition Academy for Latin America and the Caribbean (ATE LAC), a free online regional training programme designed to strengthen knowledge and capacity around the energy transition.

The programme brings together the technical, economic, political and social dimensions of energy transition, giving participants an opportunity to understand how energy systems are changing and what those changes mean for countries, communities, economies, industries and citizens across Latin America and the Caribbean.

The Academy is designed for young people, students, professionals, civil society representatives and other people interested in energy and climate issues. Importantly, previous academic or professional experience in the energy sector is not required. The programme is intended to make energy-transition knowledge accessible to people from different educational and professional backgrounds.

The 2026 programme will run from 15 October to 26 November 2026 and will consist of seven online sessions covering 12 thematic classes and a high-level closing panel. Participants will explore topics ranging from renewable energy, electricity grids and electrification to electromobility, industrial decarbonisation, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, strategic minerals, energy poverty, climate policy, energy economics and regional energy integration.

The programme is 100% online and free of charge, and eligible participants who satisfy the applicable participation and assessment requirements can receive certification issued by the University of Chile.

Application Deadline: 30 September 2026

What Is the Energy Transition Academy 2026?

The Energy Transition Academy for Latin America and the Caribbean (ATE LAC) is a regional training programme intended to bring energy-sector knowledge closer to a broader range of people.

The Academy seeks to strengthen the capacities needed for more people to participate actively in the transformation of energy systems across the region. Its stated objective is to develop people capable of contributing to the implementation of national energy and climate commitments while strengthening regional climate cooperation.

Rather than treating energy transition as a subject that belongs only to engineers or energy specialists, ATE LAC approaches it as a multidisciplinary issue involving:

This comprehensive approach is important because changing an energy system involves much more than installing renewable-energy technologies. Governments, businesses, communities, researchers and civil society organizations must also address questions surrounding infrastructure, investment, affordability, regulation, employment, energy security and social equity.

Why Energy Transition Matters in Latin America and the Caribbean

Latin America and the Caribbean are entering an important period of energy-system transformation.

Countries across the region need to translate climate and energy commitments into practical policies, infrastructure investments, regulations and projects. At the same time, they need to consider energy security, energy access, economic development and the specific circumstances of different territories.

The transition is also creating new technological, economic and social opportunities. These developments require people who can understand complex energy choices and participate meaningfully in their implementation.

ATE LAC is designed to respond to this need by providing participants with a broad understanding of the forces shaping the energy transition.

The programme does not focus exclusively on one technology or one professional discipline. Instead, it examines how different parts of the energy system interact.

Main Objective of ATE LAC

The main objective of the Academy is to strengthen the capacities needed for more people to actively participate in transforming the region’s energy systems.

The programme also seeks to develop leaders who can contribute to national commitments and goals while helping consolidate regional climate cooperation.

This means that the Academy is not simply intended to provide theoretical knowledge. It is designed to help participants understand the practical conditions surrounding energy transformation and develop the capacity to engage with the challenges involved.

Who Is the Academy Designed For?

The Academy is designed for a broad audience.

Potential participants may include:

The programme information specifically emphasizes that applicants do not need previous academic or professional experience in the energy sector.

This makes the Academy suitable for people who are beginning their journey into energy and climate issues as well as people who already have professional experience and want to expand their knowledge.

No Previous Energy Experience Required

One of the most important features of ATE LAC is its accessibility.

Applicants do not need to be energy specialists.

The Academy has been designed to make the energy sector easier to understand while still providing sufficient depth for people who already have backgrounds in areas such as:

and related disciplines.

This broad approach means that participants can enter the programme with different levels of knowledge and professional experience.

Free Online Energy Transition Training

The 2026 Academy is free of charge.

It is also delivered entirely online, meaning participants do not need to relocate or travel to a physical campus to attend the programme.

The online format includes:

The programme is expected to connect participants from different countries and professional backgrounds across Latin America and the Caribbean.

Programme Duration and Dates

The 2026 Energy Transition Academy will run for approximately seven weeks.

Programme dates: 15 October to 26 November 2026

The programme consists of seven academic sessions, with sessions scheduled every Thursday. Each session lasts approximately two hours.

The academic calendar is structured as follows:

Session 1 — 15 October 2026

The first session introduces the energy transition and examines the global and regional energy context.

Key areas include:

This opening session provides the conceptual foundation for the remainder of the Academy.

Session 2 — 22 October 2026

The second session focuses on electricity infrastructure and electrification.

Topics include:

The session examines how electricity networks need to evolve as economies become increasingly electrified.

Session 3 — 29 October 2026

The third session turns to transportation and industry.

Topics include:

Participants will explore how sectors that are major sources of energy demand and emissions can participate in the transition.

Session 4 — 5 November 2026

The fourth session explores digital technologies and the resources required for the energy transition.

Topics include:

This session highlights the increasingly important relationship between digital technologies, energy infrastructure and mineral resources.

Session 5 — 12 November 2026

The fifth session focuses on the social and economic dimensions of energy transition.

Topics include:

The concept of a just transition is particularly important because energy transformation can have different consequences for different communities, workers and economic groups.

Session 6 — 19 November 2026

The sixth session examines policy and regional cooperation.

Topics include:

Participants will examine how policy, regulation and regional cooperation can influence the direction and speed of energy transformation.

Session 7 — 26 November 2026

The final session is a high-level closing panel examining long-term scenarios for the region.

The central question is:

What Latin America do we want, and how can we start building it today?

This closing discussion connects the programme’s technical, economic, political and social themes with longer-term questions about the region’s energy future.

What Participants Will Learn

The Academy provides a broad understanding of how energy systems function and how they are changing.

Participants will examine how different technologies and parts of the energy system interact rather than studying individual technologies in isolation.

Key learning areas include:

Energy systems and technologies

Participants will learn about the interaction between energy systems and energy-transition technologies.

This includes examining opportunities and implementation challenges involving:

Transport and industrial transformation

The programme examines how transport and industrial sectors can reduce emissions through:

Digitalisation and artificial intelligence

Participants will explore how digital technologies and artificial intelligence are transforming energy systems.

This includes consideration of cybersecurity risks associated with increasingly digital critical infrastructure.

Strategic minerals

The programme also considers the role of strategic minerals and related value chains.

This includes questions involving:

Just energy transition

Participants will examine why energy transition needs to consider:

Energy economics

The Academy explores how financial and economic considerations influence energy projects.

Topics include:

Policy and regional integration

Participants will examine how:

can shape the pace and direction of energy transformation.

Programme Structure

ATE LAC consists of seven online academic sessions covering 12 thematic classes, followed by a high-level closing panel.

The sessions are expected to include:

The programme information indicates that each session lasts approximately 120 minutes.

Participation Tracks

The Academy provides two different ways of participating.

These are the:

  1. Participant Track
  2. Listener Track

The two tracks allow the programme to reach a large regional audience while providing a more intensive learning experience to a selected group.

Participant Track — 200 Places

The participant track provides approximately 200 places.

Applicants for this track go through an application and selection process.

Selected participants can:

Participants seeking certification must satisfy the relevant attendance and final assessment requirements.

The participant track is therefore particularly suitable for people who want a more intensive and collaborative learning experience.

Listener Track — 3,300 Places

The listener track provides approximately 3,300 places.

Participants in this track can follow the academic programme online and access the learning platform and programme materials.

However, they do not participate in the participant-track group project.

Listeners can still become eligible for the corresponding attendance certificate if they satisfy the applicable attendance and final assessment requirements.

This track may therefore be particularly suitable for people who want to learn from the Academy but have limited availability for additional group-work commitments.

Certification from the University of Chile

Certification is available to participants who meet the relevant completion requirements.

The certification is issued by the University of Chile.

Certification requirements differ according to the participation track.

Participant Track Requirements

Participant-track students must:

  1. Attend at least 80% of academic classes.
  2. Attend at least 80% of group-work meetings.
  3. Complete the final Academy test with at least 80% approval.

Listener Track Requirements

Listener-track participants must:

  1. Attend at least 80% of academic classes.
  2. Complete the final Academy test with at least 80% approval.

Participants who satisfy the relevant requirements are eligible for the corresponding certification issued by the University of Chile.

Programme Schedule and Time Zones

The academic sessions take place every Thursday between 15 October and 26 November 2026.

The supplied programme information gives the following standard session times:

Participants are advised to verify their local time because daylight-saving changes may affect the corresponding time in some countries.

Language of the Academy

The Academy’s principal language is Spanish.

The programme information states that simultaneous language access is available in:

This language arrangement is important because Latin America and the Caribbean contain diverse linguistic communities, and the Academy aims to make regional energy-transition knowledge more accessible.

Benefits of the Energy Transition Academy 2026

The Academy provides several academic and professional benefits.

1. Free participation

Participants can access the programme without paying tuition.

2. Fully online learning

Participants can attend remotely without traveling to a physical training venue.

3. University of Chile certification

Eligible participants who satisfy the required attendance and assessment conditions can receive certification issued by the University of Chile.

4. Interdisciplinary knowledge

The Academy connects technical energy issues with:

5. Exposure to regional energy issues

Participants gain knowledge specifically related to Latin America’s and the Caribbean’s energy-transition opportunities, challenges and implementation conditions.

6. Networking

The programme creates opportunities to connect with participants from different countries and professional backgrounds.

7. Practical knowledge

Participants can develop knowledge relevant to:

8. Collaborative learning

Selected participant-track students can work with peers on an energy-transition challenge and contribute to a collective final product.

The programme information specifically identifies learning, networking, practical knowledge, group work and certification among the key benefits.

Click HERE and HERE to learn more about the Energy Transition Academy 2026 for Latin America and the Caribbean.

Youth Participation

Youth participation is an important priority within ATE LAC.

The supplied programme information states that 85% of programme places are intended for people aged 18–35, while the remaining 15% are available without an upper age limit.

This emphasis recognizes the role that young people can play in shaping the future of energy systems, climate policy, innovation, entrepreneurship and sustainable development.

The Academy therefore provides an opportunity for young people to develop knowledge and networks that can support their future engagement with energy and climate issues.

Energy Transition and Climate Action

Energy transition is closely connected with climate action because the way societies produce, distribute and consume energy has major implications for emissions and environmental sustainability.

However, the Academy’s approach goes beyond emissions reduction.

The programme also considers:

This broader perspective is important because a successful energy transition must address both environmental objectives and the economic and social realities of the communities involved.

Energy Transition and Energy Poverty

Energy poverty is explicitly included in the Academy’s curriculum.

The programme examines energy poverty within the context of a just energy transition.

This recognizes that energy transformation is not only about the technologies used to produce electricity or fuels. It also involves questions about who has access to reliable and affordable energy and how changes in energy systems affect communities.

The Academy therefore gives participants an opportunity to examine the relationship between climate action, energy access and social equity.

Energy Transition and the Economy

The energy transition also requires substantial investment.

The Academy addresses the economic side of the transition through discussions of:

These topics help participants understand why energy projects cannot be evaluated only in technical terms.

Financial structures, public policy, investment conditions and economic incentives can influence which technologies and projects are developed and how quickly energy systems change.

Artificial Intelligence, Digitalisation and Energy

Artificial intelligence and digitalisation are increasingly connected to energy systems.

The Academy includes a dedicated session on:

This reflects the growing importance of digital technologies in energy infrastructure.

As energy systems become more interconnected and digitally managed, understanding both the opportunities and cybersecurity risks associated with digitalisation becomes increasingly important.

Strategic Minerals and the Energy Transition

Strategic minerals are another major component of the programme.

Many technologies associated with energy transition depend on mineral resources and complex global value chains.

The Academy therefore considers:

Understanding these issues is important for anyone interested in the long-term sustainability and governance of clean-energy technologies.

Transport and Industrial Decarbonisation

The programme also examines two sectors that present major challenges for energy transition: transportation and industry.

Participants will explore:

These topics help participants understand why different sectors may require different technological and policy approaches.

Climate and Energy Policy in Latin America and the Caribbean

Energy transition requires policy frameworks that can translate national objectives into practical action.

ATE LAC therefore includes climate and energy policy as a dedicated component of its curriculum.

Participants will also examine productive diversification and regional energy integration.

These topics place energy transition within a broader regional-development context rather than treating it as an isolated environmental issue.

Regional Energy Integration

The programme considers regional energy integration as part of the transition.

Regional cooperation can involve questions relating to:

By examining these issues, the Academy helps participants understand how countries can approach energy transition both individually and collectively.

About the Energy Transition Hub

ATE LAC is an initiative of the Energy Transition Hub, organized by Uno Punto Cinco together with specialized organizations in the region.

The Hub and Academy are intended to contribute to greater regional capacity around energy transition by connecting people with knowledge, expertise and opportunities for engagement.

The programme brings together perspectives from academia, international organizations, civil society and the energy sector.

About Uno Punto Cinco

Uno Punto Cinco is an NGO focused on climate action and decision-making related to the goal of avoiding an increase of more than 1.5°C in global temperature.

The organization works with:

Its work includes education, advocacy and community-building initiatives in Chile, Latin America and internationally.

The organization is therefore positioned within the wider climate and energy-transition ecosystem in which ATE LAC operates.

How to Apply for the Energy Transition Academy 2026

Applicants should complete the online registration process before the official closing date.

Step 1: Review the official programme

Applicants should first review the official ATE LAC information to understand:

Step 2: Consider your availability

Applicants should make sure they can participate in the programme between 15 October and 26 November 2026.

Those interested in certification should also ensure they can satisfy the attendance and assessment requirements.

Step 3: Complete the application form

The supplied application information provides an online registration form.

Application form:
ATE LAC 2026 Application Form

The official ATE LAC webpage also provides its registration form through the Academy page.

Step 4: Submit before the deadline

The official programme webpage currently states that applications close on:

30 September 2026

Applicants should therefore submit their forms before this date.

Step 5: Monitor your email

Applicants should regularly check the email address used during registration for information concerning selection, participation and further instructions.

APPLY HERE

Important Note About the Application Link

The detailed programme document lists:

ATE LAC Application Form listed in the programme information

The official ATE LAC webpage currently links to:

Official ATE LAC Registration Form

Official ATE LAC Website

Applicants can review the Academy’s latest information through the official programme webpage:

Official Energy Transition Academy 2026 page

Contact Information

For questions concerning the Academy, the supplied programme information gives:

Email: ate@unopuntocinco.net

The official webpage also provides contacto@unopuntocinco.net as a general contact for Uno Punto Cinco.

Key Information at a Glance

Opportunity Energy Transition Academy for Latin America and the Caribbean 2026
Programme ATE LAC 2026
Format 100% online
Cost Free
Region Latin America and the Caribbean
Minimum age 18
Maximum age No maximum stated
Youth focus 85% of places intended for ages 18–35
Previous energy experience Not required
Main language Spanish
Language access English and Portuguese
Programme dates 15 October–26 November 2026
Academic sessions 7
Thematic classes 12
Closing event High-level panel
Participant track 200 places
Listener track 3,300 places
Certification Available upon meeting requirements
Certifying institution University of Chile
Current official deadline 30 September 2026
Contact ate@unopuntocinco.net

Frequently Asked Questions

Is ATE LAC 2026 free?

Yes. The programme is free of charge.

Is the programme completely online?

Yes. The programme is delivered online, allowing participants to attend without traveling to a physical training location.

Do I need a degree in energy or engineering?

No. Previous academic or professional experience in the energy sector is not required.

What is the minimum age?

The minimum age is 18 years.

Is there a maximum age?

The supplied information states that there is no maximum age limit. However, 85% of places are intended for people aged 18–35.

What countries can participate?

The programme is focused on Latin America and the Caribbean. The supplied information states that there is no specific nationality requirement.

What language is used?

The academic programme is delivered in Spanish, with simultaneous access in English and Portuguese.

How long is the programme?

The programme runs from 15 October to 26 November 2026.

How many sessions are included?

There are seven online sessions containing 12 thematic classes, followed by a high-level closing panel.

Will I receive a certificate?

Participants can receive certification issued by the University of Chile if they satisfy the applicable attendance and assessment requirements.

What are the participant-track requirements?

Participant-track students must meet at least 80% attendance for academic classes, at least 80% attendance for group-work meetings and achieve at least 80% approval on the final Academy test.

What are the listener-track requirements?

Listeners must achieve at least 80% attendance in academic classes and at least 80% approval on the final Academy test.

Do listeners participate in the group project?

No. The group project is part of the participant track.

What is the official application deadline?

The official ATE LAC webpage currently states 30 September 2026. The supplied detailed programme document states 4 October 2026, so applicants should follow the earlier official website deadline to avoid missing the call.

Where can I find the official programme information?

The official programme information is available on the Uno Punto Cinco ATE LAC webpage:

Energy Transition Academy 2026 – Official Page

Conclusion

The Energy Transition Academy for Latin America and the Caribbean 2026 is a comprehensive free online learning opportunity for people interested in understanding the transformation of energy systems across the region.

Its main strength is its interdisciplinary approach. Rather than presenting energy transition simply as a question of renewable-energy technology, the Academy examines the relationship between technology, economics, politics, public policy, infrastructure, communities, climate action and regional cooperation.

Across seven sessions and 12 thematic classes, participants will explore renewable energy, nuclear energy, electricity grids, electrification, energy efficiency, electromobility, alternative fuels, industrial decarbonisation, artificial intelligence, digitalisation, cybersecurity, strategic minerals, just transition, energy poverty, investment, subsidies, financial instruments, climate policy and regional energy integration.

The programme is also designed to be accessible. Participants do not need previous professional experience in the energy sector, and the online format eliminates the need for travel. The programme is free, has a strong youth focus, and provides both an intensive participant track and a larger listener track.

For participants who complete the relevant requirements, the programme provides the additional opportunity to obtain certification issued by the University of Chile.

The Academy is particularly relevant to students and early-career professionals who want to build a foundation in energy transition, as well as professionals and civil society actors who already work in climate change, sustainability, engineering, economics, public policy, development, business, communications or related fields.

Prospective applicants should pay close attention to the application deadline. While the supplied programme description states 4 October 2026, the current official ATE LAC webpage states that the call closes on 30 September 2026. Applicants should therefore use 30 September 2026 as the operative deadline and consult the official webpage for any subsequent update.

Official programme:
Energy Transition Academy 2026 – Uno Punto Cinco

Registration:
ATE LAC Registration Form

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