Energia solar fotovoltaica com impacto social em contextos de baixa renda na cidade de Curitiba/PR

Abstract

The consumption of electrical energy is substantial nowadays. The global society is in the process of replacing the consumption of fossil fuels with clean or renewable sources. Buildings represent a high electricity consumption in Brazil. More energyefficient buildings are designed according to environmental comfort, with the choice of more modern equipment and the application of clean and renewable energy technologies. The use of solar energy for electricity generation through photovoltaic systems enables generation close to the consumer unit. Affordable and clean energy for all is one of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. The global pursuit of eradicating poverty also involves impactful measures for situations of energy poverty experienced by many people. Part of human dignity includes the need for housing, and social housing programs are a public policy addressing this issue in Brazil. However, many people still live in makeshift housing models and organize themselves in communities. Social housing and communities are two low-income scenarios. A sustainable strategy in the quest to end energy poverty in these scenarios is the implementation of photovoltaic generation. The work presents the analysis of two existing case studies in the city of Curitiba/PR, with the application of photovoltaic systems in a community headquarters and in social housing. The cases and their impacts and benefits on the residents’ quality of life are presented. These are real cases that highlight the importance of using photovoltaic generation in low-income contexts and that stimulate the need for public policies to encourage this area.