Thanks to the collaboration between Natura, WEG, and the Association of Agroextractivist Workers of Ilha das Cinzas (ATAIC), a sustainable agroindustry was inaugurated, equipped with photovoltaic systems and battery storage, drastically reducing dependence on diesel generators.
This energy transformation will directly impact 470 agroextractivist families, allowing them to optimize their production and increase their income by 60% through the commercialization of oils and butters, instead of just seeds and almonds.
It is the first agroindustry in an Amazonian alluvial plain area to adopt this sustainable technology, ensuring continuous operation despite periodic floods.
## Renewable Energy as a Driver of Development
Angela Pinhati, Sustainability Director of Natura, emphasized that the initiative reinforces the company’s environmental commitment, aligning with the debates planned for COP30, to be held in Belém, Pará.
“This project drives businesses with lower environmental impact and strengthens our goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2030, transforming our operation into regenerative by 2050. It also acknowledges the key role of traditional communities in forest conservation,” expressed Pinhati.
## How the Solar Energy System Works
The technology used consists of an off-grid photovoltaic system, where solar panels generate electricity stored in Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS).
This mechanism allows:
– Ensuring continuous power supply, even at night or on cloudy days.
– Reducing dependence on diesel generators, which serve as emergency backup.
– Decreasing polluting emissions, promoting a clean energy transition.
“With this initiative, WEG demonstrates how its solutions can be replicated in other Amazonian communities, promoting local development and adding value to regional products,” highlighted Daniel Marteleto Godinho, Sustainability and Institutional Relations Director of WEG.
## Unprecedented Business Alliance
The collaboration between Natura and WEG marks a milestone in boosting the Brazilian sociobioeconomy, where large companies work together to promote sustainable production models for agroindustry.
The roles of each player were crucial:
– Natura led the project structuring, coordinating partners, and providing technical and operational support.
– WEG designed and implemented the photovoltaic system with energy storage.
– W-Energy, a technical partner, executed the necessary infrastructure for the installation.
– Specialized teams trained residents, ensuring autonomy in system operation.
## Strengthening the Community and Social Sustainability
For nine years, ATAIC has maintained an alliance with Natura, supplying key inputs like murumuru, ucuuba, and patauá.
The installation of the photovoltaic system strengthens a trajectory focused on:
– Efficient water treatment.
– Waste management and biogas generation.
– Sustainable industrialization, creating more value for local products.
“This complex functions as a social technology laboratory, driving female empowerment within the community and their participation in the agroextractivist economy,” highlighted Francisco Malheiros, President of ATAIC.
## Reference Model for Other Regions
With this advancement, it is expected that ATAIC will increase its productivity sustainably, improving the economic and social conditions of local families.
Additionally, the initiative aims to become a replicable reference, promoting sustainable models in other areas of the Amazon and Brazil.
This project demonstrates that energy innovation and bioeconomy can transform rural communities, driving a more inclusive and environmentally responsible future.
