Maria Gomez

Colombian engineer leading renewable energy transformation in Amazon basin communities

Maria Gomez is a civil engineer from Leticia, Colombia, whose work in renewable energy systems has empowered over 200 indigenous communities along the Amazon River. Through her nonprofit Amazon Energía, established in 2019, she designs culturally sensitive solar microgrids that integrate with traditional knowledge systems. Her modular 'Solar Canoe' units - floating solar arrays mounted on traditional Amazonian boats - have become iconic symbols of sustainable innovation.

Maria's innovation lies in her participatory design process. She collaborates with indigenous leaders to ensure energy solutions align with environmental stewardship values. Her team's hybrid systems combine solar power with kinetic energy from river currents, achieving 95% reliability in remote locations. By 2024, 35 villages had transitioned entirely from diesel generators to these systems, reducing carbon emissions by an estimated 8,000 tons annually.

A 2023 recipient of the Goldman Environmental Prize, Maria's work has inspired similar projects in the Peruvian and Brazilian Amazon. Her Amazon Energy Wiki - a multilingual online repository of indigenous energy practices - has become a vital resource for global sustainability researchers.

Key challenges addressed include designing corrosion-resistant equipment for humid environments and creating financing models using carbon credits. Maria's 'Solar Schools' initiative now provides electricity to 27 community centers, enabling evening adult education programs. Her vision of 'Energy Sovereignty' has redefined how renewable energy projects can respect and amplify traditional ecological knowledge.