Solar-Powered Food Processing

Solar-powered food processing is creating new economic opportunities in the Brazilian Amazon through a solar-battery mini-grid in Bela Conquista. The system combines 50 kWp of solar capacity with 165 kWh of battery storage to provide reliable electricity for an açaí processing facility previously constrained by unstable, diesel-based power. With dependable electricity, the facility can process up to 36,000 liters of açaí annually while reducing fruit losses and supporting local incomes.

The project demonstrates how distributed solar can support productive businesses alongside basic energy access in remote communities. Partners plan to scale the model to 20 pilots reaching up to 25 communities, where installations could collectively avoid 255,000 liters of diesel annually. By connecting reliable power with local processing, the model could help communities capture more value from regional resources while creating a scalable approach for financing and operating remote bioeconomy businesses.