Isis Amanajás

Brazilian social entrepreneur developing solar energy solutions to electrify underserved Amazonian communities.

Background

Isis Amanajás founded SolarTechno in 2019 to address energy poverty in Brazil's Amazon region. A civil engineer and environmental scientist, she designed low-cost solar kits adapted to rainforest humidity and wildlife interference. By 2022, her team had installed over 5,000 systems in remote villages, reducing reliance on diesel generators and improving education access through nighttime lighting.

Innovative Strategies

Amanajás pioneered the Solar-as-a-Service model, where communities pay via mobile money for energy instead of upfront costs. Her 2021 partnership with UNICEF Brazil expanded access to 150 schools, enabling online learning during the pandemic. She also created the Rainforest Energy Collective, training indigenous youth as technicians through a Global Solar Foundation grant.

Global Recognition

In 2023, Amanajás won the Green Heroes Award for sustainable tech innovation. Her TED Talk Powering the Amazon Without Cutting Trees has over 2 million views, inspiring similar projects in Peru and Colombia. She advocates for policy changes through the Brazilian Energy Transition Coalition, pushing to increase renewable energy quotas from 45% to 60% by 2030.