Eletrificação rural em comunidades isoladas na Amazônia : introdução da energia solar fotovoltaica na Reserva Extrativista do Rio Unini, AM

Abstract

In the Amazon, the challenges to bring electricity to communities are extremely complex given its large territory and its human populations inhabiting areas with compact, dense forest and river flooded network. In this condition the solar photovoltaic technology has been considered an alternative for energizing isolated and remote areas. Eletrobras Amazonas Energia concessionaire - AmE, responsible for distribution of electricity in the state of Amazonas, developed and implemented a special project of photovoltaic generation systems and distribution of electricity in twelve communities located in six municipalities in the state of Amazonas. This work aimed to evaluate the appropriation of technology introduced, its acceptability by the residents of the Community Terra Nova and its sustainability in the social, economic and environmental. The community is located in the Extractive Reserve Unini River in the town of Barcelos, State of Amazonas. The results showed that the introduced technology caused positive changes in the quality of life in the community provided by the accessibility of electric power quality, constant, clean and low cost compared to the family economy. The possibility of using household appliances for preserving food and medicines offered improvements in health conditions and the night lighting of the community school is allowing offer an educational process continued to residents. On the other hand, the installed system can’t meet the potential demand of the community since the installed capacity does not allow the use of energy to drive equipment to capture and distribution of drinking water and machines used in the processing of agricultural products. The installed system also presents serious deficiencies in maintenance. This is attributed to the lack of predictive capabilities and disarticulation of this initiative with public policies aimed at social, economic and environmental sustainability and improving the quality of life of family farmers.