Construction of solar plants benefits communities in remote areas

The construction of photovoltaic solar plants is multiplying and spreading more and more throughout Brazil. These projects positively affect the generation of jobs and income in the cities where they are being installed. According to the STI Norland, manufacturer of solar trackers and fixed structures, these works directly impact the development of several Brazilian communities.

Currently, the company is responsible for more than 160 projects in Brazil, both distributed generation as centralized. Among them, the Marabá plant (PA), located in the municipality of the same name, in Pará, and the Coremas plant (PB). According to the tracker manufacturer, the impacts range from the growth of local commerce to support the new number of people who start to visit the community, boosting the local economy, to the city's infrastructure, which often receives improvements such as roads and transportation.

“Normally, improvements are made such as improving access roads, paving, signage and construction of speed bumps for the safety of residents. Furthermore, we train and hire local residents, which also impacts the community, helping to reduce unemployment”, says Anelise Pereira, Planning Analyst at STI Norland Brasil.

In Marabá, with the construction of a new plant in the region, 15 local residents were called to work, joining the STI Norland team, on the project which currently has 27 company employees in total. In addition to generating employment, these works contribute to the professional qualification of local residents as all professionals receive professional technical training, offered by the company.

“For us, it is very important to use this local workforce, as we can, at the same time, boost the region’s economy, make improvements and attract new employees, who we will train and take with us to future projects”, analyzes Javier Reclusa, CEO of STI Norland Brasil.

Among these professionals is Marley Moura. He started his activities in São João do Piauí (PI) and is now moving on to participate in a new project. “Marley was hired as a local warehouse assistant and, within the same project, he was promoted. Now, he is starting activities at our work at the Coremas plant, as head of the Warehouse”, says Anelise.

In the first phase of the Coremas Project, the impact caused by the company also brought about beneficial changes for the local population, with 60% of the workforce hired being municipal workers.

“At the time of construction of the first phase of the project, the city of 15 thousand inhabitants, which had fishing as its main activity, needed to develop its local workforce to meet expectations and the project, both for civil works activities and electromechanical assembly. Today, the impact on the region is smaller, due to this first stage,” says the professional.

Diego Melo, Site Manager of STI Norland Brasil at the Marabá plant, highlights that the company seeks to employ residents of the region in which it is located to help with both the economic and social development of each location. “Among so many remarkable stories that became part of the company, that of Geyson Santos Lima cannot be left aside. Geyson came to the company looking for his first job and, despite experiencing several difficulties, he continued to show up and stood out among the employees”, he concludes.