EN 
PT_BR 
The concessionaire Norte Energia, of the Belo Monte Hydroelectric Plant, launched a pilot project this week that will bring solar energy to indigenous villages on the Xingu River, in southwestern Pará.
Entitled “Green Energy in Xingu”, the initiative will replace diesel electricity generators with solar panels installed on floating boats, with the aim of promoting environmental preservation in the region.
According to the company, in this first phase of the project, more than 400 indigenous people from six villages in the region should benefit. The supply structure of the new mode has an autonomous solar energy generation system using batteries to guarantee the supply of electricity for up to 48 hours without incidence of radiation.
The energy generated by the photovoltaic modules will directly serve indigenous villages in the region known as Volta Grande do Xingu, the project's area of influence.
Currently, the project's pilot unit is undergoing tests and is installed in the plant's STE (Vessel Transposition System), on the right bank of the river, with a container positioned on the ground and photovoltaic solar panels installed on floating panels. The continuity of tests and the implementation of the Project in villages in the region will be defined after negotiations with the indigenous people and Funai (National Indian Foundation).
In total, the plant under test has 124 floating panels of 405 W each. The site also has power and storage units, which include lithium batteries with a capacity of 50.22 kWp and a system for remote monitoring and command, as well as communication and internet access via satellite.
