Leticia Goncalves

Brazilian renewable energy entrepreneur powering Amazon communities with solar microgrids

Leticia Goncalves transformed energy access in the Amazon rainforest through her company Solar Nova, which has deployed over 1,200 solar microgrids since 2020. Her Community Solar Initiative provides free solar panels to indigenous villages in exchange for land protection commitments, creating a unique conservation-energy partnership. Goncalves pioneered the Brazilian Solar Innovation Lab in 2022, training 3,000 technicians from underserved regions. Her 2023 invention SolarLeaf - solar panels shaped like palm leaves to blend into rainforest environments - won the Global Energy Prize. Through partnerships with WWF, her projects now protect 2 million hectares of rainforest while providing clean energy. Goncalves' 2024 documentary Sunlight in the Canopy highlighted her work, leading to $50 million in new investments. She co-founded the Amazon Energy Network, connecting 500+ renewable energy projects across South America. Her BBC interview discussing 'Energy as Conservation Tool' set global standards for sustainable development frameworks.