In the favelas of Rio de Janeiro, the flat roofs – known as lajes – are multifunctional spaces: they are used for hanging clothes, flying kites, storing water, or capturing solar energy.
In the Babilônia community, facing Copacabana beach, these roofs generate solar electricity thanks to the initiative of Revolusolar, an NGO that promotes the first energy cooperative in a Brazilian favela.
From hostels to homes: the origin of the solar revolution
The story began in 2015, when the owners of two local hostels decided to install solar panels to face high electricity bills. The distribution company Light usually reports illegal connections in the favelas, but neighbors who do pay face inflated bills based on arbitrary estimates.
Thanks to a special credit line for vulnerable communities, the entrepreneurs accessed the necessary financing. After overcoming technical and bureaucratic obstacles, they managed to reduce their energy costs by more than half.
Breaking prejudices: solar energy as a real option in the favela
Initially, solar panels were seen as an elitist whim, disconnected from the reality of the favela. But the installation on the roof of the neighborhood association marked a turning point. The community began to understand its economic benefits, beyond the environmental discourse.
Today, the expansion of photovoltaic energy in Babilônia responds to a logic of savings, but also to a process of technological appropriation that strengthens the social fabric.
Technical training and local employment: energy that generates opportunities
Revolusolar not only installed panels: they also provided free training to more than 20 young people as electricians and solar installers, creating sustainable trades within the favela.
Initially, the project relied on volunteers, but quickly evolved into a model of technical training and local employment.
Solar cooperatives: towards energy self-sufficiency in popular territories
The creation of an energy cooperative marks the next step: scaling the model so that Babilônia becomes the first self-sufficient favela in Brazil. This approach combines:
- Distributed solar energy
- Community organization
- Cost reduction and energy independence
- Technical training and job creation
