The Amazon region is one of the most restricted places for electricity infrastructure. Rural communities are generally dependent on generators with fossil fuel and state-backed energy projects. But the intensive forested areas and long distances make it difficult to maintain the energy transmission lines, leading to electricity cuts frequently.
Power cuts make food preservation difficult, restrict education and health services, and disrupt economic activity. Communities which earn income with fishing and agriculture can’t store their products for a long time and experience economic losses because they do not have refrigeration and processing facilities. Therefore, access to sustainable and reliable energy sources is critical.
Solar energy offers an independent, low-cost, and environmentally friendly solution for communities in the Amazon. The 132 photovoltaic panels and 54 lithium batteries installed in the community of Santa Helena do Inglês provide uninterrupted energy to the region, contributing to the development of ecotourism, fisheries and educational opportunities.[1] Thanks to electricity, internet access has become possible, so that education and commercial activities have gained a sustainable structure.
Moreover, solar energy reduces carbon emissions by reducing the use of fossil fuels and supports environmental sustainability in the region. Communities are transitioning to a self-sufficient energy model by reducing foreign dependency.
The natural beauties of the Amazon offer great potential in terms of ecotourism. However, a stable electrical infrastructure is necessary for the development of tourism. The Vista Rio Negro ecotourism facility in Santa Helena has increased the comfort of tourists coming to the region and created new employment opportunities for locals by providing uninterrupted service thanks to solar energy.
Fishing is also one of the main livelihoods of the region. The solar-powered ice factory allows fishermen to preserve their products for a long time. With a daily production capacity of three tonnes of ice, this facility supports the local economy and increases the sustainability of fisheries.[2] In addition, five permanent jobs have been created at the factory and economic activity in the region has been animated.
The Amazon is one of the regions that feels the effects of climate change most intensely. Extreme drought and changes in water levels in recent years have adversely affected fisheries and ecotourism. Vista Rio Negro Inn has been forced to suspend operations for four months in 2024 due to falling water levels.
Renewable energy investments are of great importance in order to cope with such crises. Two large solar power plants installed in the region contribute to long-term sustainable development by ensuring the energy security of communities. Solar energy helps local people to continue their economic activities without interruption by preventing power cuts.
Sustainable development models in the Amazon are built on key elements such as renewable energy, ecotourism, sustainable fisheries, and natural resource management. Projects supported by the Amazon Sustainable Foundation (FAS) increase the economic independence of communities in the region and ensure energy security.
One of the best examples of this is the solar power plant consisting of 80 panels installed in the Carauari community.[3]This facility allows locals to trade oils produced from the native plants of the Amazon. Solar energy-assisted production increases economic mobility and modernizes traditional production processes in the region.
Increasing renewable energy investments to ensure the sustainable development of the Amazon stands out as one of the most critical steps in terms of ensuring energy security in the region. The expansion of solar power plants will minimize the use of fossil fuels while reducing the dependence of rural communities on foreign sources. The installation of more photovoltaic panels and battery systems will directly benefit the fisheries, agriculture, education and health sectors in the region. Solar-powered ice factories, such as the one in Santa Helena, for example, will allow fishermen to store their produce for longer periods of time, while contributing greatly to the local economy. In addition, strengthening energy infrastructure will enable other rural communities to benefit from similar projects, accelerating economic transformation across a large region of the Amazon.
Increasing the participation of local people in decision-making processes is a critical element in ensuring the long-term success of sustainable development projects. Developing projects that directly meet the needs and expectations of communities will accelerate economic growth in the region. Local governments’ cooperation with non-governmental organizations and international environmental organizations to provide more financial and technical support will increase the success of sustainable development models. In this context, the active role of rural communities in the Amazon in their own economic and environmental development processes will create a structure that supports energy security, ecotourism and local production in the long run.
The future of the Amazon depends on the success of sustainable development models based on renewable energy sources. Projects implemented in communities such as Santa Helena do Inglês and Carauari demonstrate how renewable energy contributes to economic and social development. Strategies such as solar energy, ecotourism, sustainable fisheries, and natural resource management have the potential to secure both the economic and environmental future of the Amazon.
In this context, the wider implementation and integration of energy projects in the Amazon with different sectors in the future will support the long-term development of rural communities in the region. Improving the well-being of communities by preserving the natural balance of the Amazon will be a huge environmental and economic gain, not only on a regional but also a global scale.
1 Osava, Mario. “Solar Energy Sustains the Development of Amazonian Communities in Brazil”, Global Issues, https://www.globalissues.org/news/2025/03/05/39248, (Date Accession: 09.03.2025).
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid.
