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Energisa takes solar energy to 200 riverside families in the Amazon; installation ensures continuous, clean and renewable light for residents

Written by Flavia Marinho
Published 28/10/2021 às 09:34
amazon - energy - solar - internet - tim - energisa
Energisa brings electricity to the riverside community in the Amazon

Energisa signed a partnership with the operator TIM, in addition to electricity 24 hours a day, also providing internet to residents of the Amazon

The arrival of continuous, clean and renewable electricity in Vila Restauração marks a new story in the lives of the approximately 200 families that live in this small town located in a remote area of ​​the Amazon Region in Acre. Now Vila Restauração, in Acre, close to the border with Peru, now has 24-hour energy with the installation of a solar generation and storage microsystem that guarantees continuous, clean and renewable energy for residents of the Amazon.

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The works that guarantee the supply of light to the community 24 hours a day were inaugurated on Tuesday (26/10/2021), by Energisa, the largest private group with national capital in the electricity sector. The initiative combines innovation and sustainable development, in addition to improving the quality of life for the entire riverside community in the Amazon, which, until then, only had electricity for just three hours a day.

The electricity installed by Energisa will reach residents through a microsystem for solar generation and energy storage, using lithium ion batteries

Electricity will reach residents through a microsystem for solar generation and energy storage, using lithium-ion batteries, state-of-the-art technology with low environmental impact and greater durability. The excess energy generated over sunny days will be stored in batteries to ensure supply at night and on rainy or cloudy days, with low incidence of sunlight. In this way, the riverside residents of the Amazon will have access to energy continuously.

The company will also remotely monitor the system 24 hours a day to monitor and record all operations. Thus, it will be possible to act preventively and quickly if there is any need for maintenance. Energisa's investment amounts to approximately R$ 20 million and is part of Energisa's Research and Development and Energy Efficiency programs, both regulated by the National Electric Energy Agency (Aneel).

Electricity in the community was produced by a single diesel generator, funded by the local inhabitants and the city hall of Marechal Thaumaturgo

The energy supply in Vila Restauração was precarious, expensive and polluting. The light was produced by a single diesel generator, funded by the local inhabitants of the Amazon and the city hall of Marechal Thaumaturgo, the closest city to the community and 557 kilometers from the capital Rio Branco.

“When energy arrives, lives are transformed. We are bringing sustainable development to those who live in one of the most remote regions in Brazil within the Amazon Rainforest. Therefore, we decided to carry out an innovative project with responsibility and low environmental impact. Carrying electricity is more than providing a service. It's allowing access to something so essential for people to realize their dreams. Now, residents will be able to have appliances to store food and medicine, access the internet and undertake within their own community”, celebrates José Adriano Mendes Silva, CEO of Energisa in Acre. The company will donate efficient consumption equipment. 105 refrigerators, 50 freezers and 1.000 light bulbs were replaced.

Energisa signed a partnership with the operator TIM to provide internet for residents of the Amazon

The arrival of energy also allowed initiatives to improve the local infrastructure. In addition to bringing energy, Energisa entered into a partnership with the operator TIM to provide internet for residents of this community in the Amazon. Vila Restauração was chosen to receive the first 4G antenna in the region.

“Having electricity all day seems simple for those who live in the city, but for us here in Vila Restauração it is something that totally changes our lives. Now I will be able to drink cold water, store food without fear of spoiling it and I will be able to watch my Flamengo game whenever I want”, says Deison Furtado, a resident.

Given the complexity of the project, the work involved different areas of the company. In addition to the efforts undertaken by Energisa's distributor in Acre, the initiative was carried out by Alsol, Grupo Energisa's renewable energy company. This unit is responsible for developing energy solutions from clean and renewable sources, in a decentralized, digitized manner, with storage systems and also transport electrification.

Energisa also carried out a socio-environmental study to identify the community's vulnerabilities in order to carry out the project. Therefore, the planning considered important aspects of sustainability and logistics during the works. The results of the project in Vila Restauração, in the Amazon, will serve to create a model to be replicated in other remote areas.

The riverside community of the Amazon is located within the Alto Juruá Extractive Reserve near the border with Peru

Vila Restauração – The Amazon riverside community is located within the Alto Juruá Extractive Reserve, 70 km from the center of the municipality of Marshal Thaumaturgo (AC), close to the border with Peru. To get to the place, one of the most remote in Brazil, it takes four to ten hours to travel in small boats, depending on the conditions on the river. The equipment and materials that serve the distribution network arrived at the location after a great logistical effort.

Most of the generation and storage system, such as solar panels, batteries and converters, went by truck from Uberlândia (MG), Alsol's headquarters, to the city of Cruzeiro do Sul (AC), where there was a transfer for ferries to complete the river transport. The displacement of each batch sent took, on average, about 13 days – six on the road and another seven on waterways.

“The advancement of the electrical grid brings benefits locally and across the country. We are working hard and have made strong investments to offer people quality energy and promote sustainable development in the Amazon. Our entire strategy is based on 4G energy: decarbonized, decentralized, diversified and digitized”, adds José Adriano Mendes Silva, CEO of Energisa in Acre.

Vila Restauração in numbers:

  • Families served: about 200
  • Connected Units: 222
  • Residential: 193
  • Commercials: 14
  • Public services: 15
  • Conventional light fixtures: 75
  • Solar lights: 8
  • Installed power: 325Kwp with 580 solar panels
  • Total energy generated in 30 days: 11,90 MWh
  • Storage: 828 kWh (4 battery racks, 207 kWh each, installed in a container with its own refrigeration and fire-fighting system)
  • Backup generators: 2 x 116 kVA, which will be automatically activated by the plant's energy management system.
  • Investment: around R$ 20 million.

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Flavia Marinho

Flavia Marinho is a postgraduate engineer with extensive experience in the onshore and offshore shipbuilding industry. In recent years, she has dedicated herself to writing articles for news websites in the areas of industry, oil and gas, energy, shipbuilding, geopolitics, jobs and courses. Contact her for suggestions, job openings or advertising on our portal.

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