Fabiana Oliveira

Brazilian social entrepreneur bringing solar energy to marginalized communities

Fabiana Oliveira: Lighting Up Brazil's Favelas

Fabiana Oliveira (born 1985) is a pioneering social entrepreneur who founded Solar Desenvolvimento in 2012. Her organization has installed over 5,000 solar energy systems in Brazil's favelas, providing clean electricity to 250,000 people. Growing up in Rio de Janeiro's Complexo do Alemão favela, she understood first-hand the challenges of energy poverty - 14% of Brazilians lack reliable electricity.

Her innovative 'Solar as a Service' model allows families to pay small monthly fees instead of upfront costs. The project won the 2016 Ashden Award for Sustainable Energy, receiving £20,000 to expand operations. By 2020, her initiative had reduced carbon emissions by 3,000 tons annually while creating 150 local jobs.

Oliveira's work inspired similar projects in Colombia and Kenya. She was named one of Forbes' 30 Under 30 Social Entrepreneurs (2017) and featured in the documentary 《Light in the Dark》. Her 2021 book 《Luz Que Transforma》 details her journey and energy equity strategies.