THE POWER OF AGROVOLTAIC SYSTEMS ON SEMIARID REGIONS
by Heitor Branco Sabino
1.THE AGROVOLTAIC SYSTEM CONSTRUCTION
2.ABOUT HEITOR
After working for three years in the private sector of photovoltaic solar energy market, the young production engineer, Heitor Branco Sabino, decided to discover new environment, where solar photovoltaic energy could be applied for the socioeconomic improvement of low-income people. In 2018, a research project by the Agronomic Institute of Pernambuco financed by the National Council for Scientific Development, linked to the Ministry of Science, Technology, Innovations and Communications of Brazil, believed in the potential of the young engineer to be part of a group of researchers through scholarship work. The project called Ecolume has the main objective to develop the Brazilian semi-arid region through low-cost alternative technologies that have the potential to change for a better quality of life to people living on this region and who are facing a total climate change scenario that brings an extreme consequence in the scarcity of resources crucial for human survival such as water, food and electricity.
To guarantee these essential resources for human safety, the project developed the concept of the circular economy through the triad nexus of water, food, and energy security. Using as base one technology called agrovoltaic system it has been the first prototype in Latin America in the proposed format. Looking at these contexts, the young twenty-six-year-old production engineer started to act. Born in the city of Recife, the coastal capital from Pernambuco State, the young engineer began to make several trips to the Semiarid Region of Brazil, especially to an agroecology technical school called SERTA (Alternative Technology Service), located in the city of Ibimirim- Pernambuco 350 kilometers away from his hometown.
Many of the trips were made by bus lasting around five hours, the young engineer along the way always thought and studied the importance of the project to this region. At the agroecology school, the agrovoltaic prototype technology began to be developed. And, after developing the prototype Heitor Branco Sabino would see in front of his eyes the material proof that, if States and Federal government from Brazil and others regions around the world do more efficient public policies and orientate the monetary resources efficiently the semiarid regions could be a place of great prosperity, quality of life, health and well-being for more than 25 million people who are living in there. He also thought about how it actions could avoid a large amount of rural exodus from the big capitals for the simple fact of people having obtained opportunities in their land.
With his experience in photovoltaic solar energy, the young helped efficiently in the development of the system. Heitor Branco Sabino had the opportunity to train several students from the agroecology technical school to learn how to assemble and understand the system in a fast dynamic way. Another important fact, which brings the complement for the solar photovoltaic system to be called an agrovoltaic system is the increase of agricultural production under the photovoltaic panels, through organic foods.
The young engineer, always very curious, also wanted to get involved in this part of organic agricultural production. Therefore, he also helps in setting up the aquaponics system (a mix between hydroponic vegetables and fish), with the experts on the technology who make part of the Ecolume project. In the COVID-19 pandemic, the young leader got involved as a volunteer on the Ecolume Project with great honor and dedication in carrying out online activities, especially in the boost of social media, vídeo calls with the team and partners. And the most important activities are being researching and reports about the Ecolume agrovoltaic prototype.
Another cause of the young Brazilian is the activism in the dissemination of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals since the COVID-19 pandemic started. Created in 2015, and with ambitious targets present in the 2030 Agenda, the SDGs address an important struggle to leave no one behind. Using socials media, his work is been done clearly and efficiently for as many people as possible. Also in 2020, Heitor Branco Sabino joined two international youth groups: Young Oceans Voices Work Group and UN Environment Major Group for Children and Youth. It was a very important conquest to help in the exchange of ideas and knowledge among youth leaders around the world.
Heitor Branco Sabino follows the ideas that the semiarid regions especially the Caatinga Biome(only in Brazil), are extremely vulnerable facing a climate change scenario. And, over this logic, it should start to have more efficiently public/private investments for theses regions to being prepared for extreme mother natural events, which are occurring more intensely and often. The young leader has in mind that increasing environmental awareness and the engagement of the next generations it's crucial for society to have more sustainable and equal opportunities for everyone. Through all these facts, the young Brazilian is tracing your story against climate change. Always dedicating his actions with love, happiness, humility, and commitment to bring hope for the next generations to live with perfect harmony on the planet Earth, especially on Semiarid Regions.
You can follow Heitor on:
Instagram: @heitorbsabino
Twitter: @heitorsabino1