A pioneering initiative, in partnership with the federal - through the MME - and state governments, will decarbonize the island with the installation of a photovoltaic solar plant integrated with battery storage systems;

An investment of R$ 350 million will make Fernando de Noronha a benchmark for sustainability in Latin America

Historic project will be Brazil's legacy for the Climate Conference taking place this week in Belém

Neoenergia has started work on the Noronha Verde Solar Power Plant, a milestone for the energy transition in the Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. With an investment of R$350 million, the pioneering project in the country plans to install more than 30,000 photovoltaic solar panels integrated with advanced battery storage systems (BESS), with the aim of decarbonizing the Archipelago's energy generation by the first half of 2027. With this, Fernando de Noronha will be the first inhabited oceanic island in Latin America to reach this level, becoming a world reference in sustainability.

The initiative is part of the More for Noronha Program and has a partnership with the Federal Government, through the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME), and the State Government of Pernambuco. It will be implemented in two phases: the first will be operational by May 2026 and the second in the first half of 2027. The project has been licensed by the Pernambuco State Environment Agency (CPRH), with the consent of ICMBio, the Federal Conservation Unit manager.

The new photovoltaic solar plant integrated with the battery system will have a generation capacity of 22 MWp, with 49 MWh from the BESS system, equivalent to the consumption of 9,000 homes on the mainland. Currently, the energy consumed in Fernando de Noronha is generated by the Tubarão Plant, using mainly biodiesel. In addition to reducing dependence on fuel, the new generation model will also reduce charges and subsidies in the Sectoral Energy Development Account (CDE), paid today through the Fuel Consumption Account (CCC), which currently subsidizes the energy generated on the island.

The launch of the project that will decarbonize Fernando de Noronha comes at a strategic time for the country, on the eve of COP 30, which will be held in Brazil this year. The initiative reinforces Neoenergia's commitment to the global climate agenda and positions the company as a protagonist in the energy transition, helping the country to present concrete results and examples of leadership in clean energy during the international conference.

In addition to the construction of the Green Noronha Plant, the More for Noronha Program brings together a set of actions that include sustainable mobility, technological innovation and the expansion of non-polluting energy sources in the territory.

"The Green Noronha plant, as well as the other initiatives of the More for Noronha Program, reaffirms Neoenergia's leading role in decarbonization and shows the company's commitment to preserving ecological sanctuaries such as Fernando de Noronha. We will continue to use innovation combined with sustainability to make the energy transition accessible to everyone. In addition, it will be a legacy for the country at a time when we are hosting the most important event focused on the global climate agenda, COP30," explains Neoenergia's CEO, Eduardo Capelastegui.

During the ceremony to launch the Noronha Verde project, Neoenergia will also deliver the archipelago's first Floating Solar Photovoltaic Plant, installed on the water mirror of the Açude do Xaréu. With an investment of R$10 million, from Neoenergia Pernambuco's Energy Efficiency Program (regulated by Aneel), the floating plant has a power of 622 kWp and an estimated generation of 1,083 MWh/year, enough to supply around 30% of Companhia Pernambucana de Saneamento's (Compesa) energy consumption on the island and avoid the emission of 717 tons of CO₂ per year.

For both the new plant that will be built and the Xaréu plant, which has already been delivered, Neoenergia has a partnership with WEG, a global electrical and electronic equipment company, which is responsible for the complete supply of photovoltaic systems and the energy storage system, as well as the technical and operational execution of both projects. The company is responsible for the delivery of the equipment through to the commissioning required to guarantee the functioning of the integrated solutions.

More for Noronha

The Green Noronha Plant marks another stage in the More for Noronha Program. Over the years, Neoenergia has been investing in the island's sustainability. The program also brings together sustainable mobility actions, technological innovation and incentives for distributed microgeneration. The initiatives include

• Installation of solar water heating systems in around 20 guesthouses;
• Replacing old fridges and donating efficient light bulbs to residents;
• Implementation of the first nine photovoltaic systems in homes, businesses, public bodies and NGOs;
• Construction of the Noronha I and II solar power plants, which accounted for 5% of the archipelago's electricity consumption;
• Installation of two solar plants to supply electric vehicles, with 12 electric stations at strategic points on the island, as part of the Trilha Verde project, in partnership with eiON, CPqD, WEG and Renault;
• Providing 14 electric vehicles for circulation on the island;
• Encouraging the use of electric bicycles, with free charging stations;
• Replacement of all electricity meters, making Noronha the first place in the Northeast with Intelligent Electricity Networks (REIs).

The projects developed by Neoenergia in Fernando de Noronha reinforce the company's commitment to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The ongoing work is related to SDG 7 (clean and affordable energy), 9 (innovation industry and infrastructure), 11 (sustainable cities and communities) and 17 (partnerships and means of implementation).