If in much of the country the solar power is still a promise, representing less than 1% in the Brazilian energy matrix, in the extreme northwest of the state of Paraíba is already a reality and with the potential to grow a lot, as there are several projects that encompass actions in the public sector, private and civil society organizations.
Paraíba and the Northeast region have the highest and best levels of solar radiation in Brazil, apart from the enormous gains that this option represents in terms of facing climate change as it is a clean and renewable energy.
Just to get an idea, the municipality of Sousa has only 10% (80 thousand inhabitants) of the population registered in the capital, but it is already responsible for generating 2,5 times more solar energy than João Pessoa, what does it represent around 2,1 megawatts.
Of course, the issue of solar energy use in the sertão is directly associated with concerns about water security and the increasingly severe consequences of global warming.
Several regions of northeastern Brazil, Paraíba is one of them, has been facing a severe drought for seven years, the consequences of which are no longer dramatic due to programs such as the construction of cisterns., Bolsa Família and those in support of family farming that, made it possible to keep the backlanders producing and being able to provide living conditions for their families, programs that have been consolidated in the last 15 years old.
"We no longer hear about flagellate, work fronts and migrations, thanks mainly to the cisterns that guaranteed the water supply for the workers in the field”, says teacher Mariana Moreira, of the Federal University of Campina Grande, Cajazeiras Campus.
But for the collection of water that is scarce in the region, it is essential to obtain energy sources at affordable prices and that are capable, among other needs, to extract and treat the water that will be consumed by families.
Therefore, the Semi-Arid Renewable Energy Committee has been working for more than four years with small producers through their associations, communities and academic support.
César Nobrega, general coordinator of Cersa, points out that electric energy represents a great cost for the family farmer and the solar source can represent the energy independence of the small producer, "in this way, we no longer see energy as a commodity, but as a good available to people", explains Nobrega.
The central idea of the projects run by Cersa is the decentralization and independence of small rural properties so that they can autonomously generate their own energy and meet their needs. This is the case of the Acauã Settlement, located in the city of Aparecida, whose photovoltaic plates installed in the village move the water pump that supplies all of its 114 families.
In Paraiba: “solar cities”
If the solar solution is optimal for communities that are more distant and isolated from the distribution network, nothing prevents urban areas already served by electricity from opting for the abundant renewable energy.
in Sousa, this option is already present in hotel, gas station and even the parish of Centro Pastoral da Paróquia de Santana and the city cemetery are already manor houses. In this last one, a solar-powered artesian well system supplies water to the local population and cleans the São João Batista cemetery.
The municipality of Sousa was also a pioneer in the entire state of Paraíba by installing the first photovoltaic solar system in a state primary and secondary school., the school Professor Dione Diniz Oliveira Dias at Núcleo Habitacional II. The project was carried out in partnership with the Semi-Arid Renewable Energy Committee (Cersa), the Climate Change and Social Justice Forum, Misereor (entity linked to the German Catholic Church) and Caritas (brazilian catholic).
on top of all this, 5% of the City Hall's premises are already supplied with solar energy. To Mayor Fábio Tyrone, do PSB, the option for solar energy in Sousa is already consolidated. "We want all city hall buildings to migrate to solar energy".
According to the mayor, in only 30 months the investments would be recovered. The city has around 26 schools and 28 health posts, in addition to about fifty properties, totaling more than 100 public spaces, including public lighting.
The mayor of Sousa is also committed to enabling the installation of solar panels in homes. If in much of the country the 8 thousand reais to supply the house of a family with four people would take, by current conditions, around six years to get paid. With public incentive, credit and conditions facilitated, the city can serve as a great example for the Northeast and for the whole of Brazil on how to take advantage of the best we have and transform the lemon (blazing sun) in lemonade (best quality energy).
If in much of the country the
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