Ligia Menezes

Brazilian engineer who pioneered renewable energy solutions for Amazonian indigenous communities

Ligia Menezes (b. 1972) revolutionized sustainable energy access in the Amazon through her company Soluções Verdes, established in 1998. Her solar energy systems, designed specifically for rainforest environments, now power over 150 remote villages. Menezes' breakthrough came in 2001 with the development of the 'Solar Canoe' – a hybrid propulsion system combining solar panels with traditional dugout canoes. This innovation reduced diesel consumption by 90% in river transportation, as detailed in this UNEP report. Her 2005 partnership with the Surui tribe created the first indigenous-managed solar grid, a model now replicated across 12 countries. Menezes' 2008 TEDGlobal talk Energy for the Amazon inspired global interest in decentralized energy systems. Her work with the Amazon Environmental Research Institute (IPAM) led to Brazil's 2010 Renewable Energy Incentive Program, which allocated $500 million to rainforest communities. Recent projects include floating solar farms documented in this Nature Sustainability study.