Solar ice maker benefits community from Amazon
The project was awarded in 2014 by Google's Social Impact Challenge in Brazil
Two months ago, eight families living in Vila Nova do Amanã—a small village in the region near Solimões river, in the Amazon—gained access to a staple item for most Brazilians, but considered a luxury on that place. The riverside community received three solar powered ice machines that produce 90 kg of ice per day.
"These families are mainly engaged in fishing and agriculture. The machines will meet their demand for ice, especially to keep the fruit pulp and fish fresh," explained Otacílio Brito, from the social technologies sector of the Institute Mamirauá, a social organization sponsored and supervised by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation.
Ice machines are slightly larger than a regular refrigerator. Each machine costs about $6,500 and produces 30 kilograms of ice daily. The technology was developed by researchers from the University of São Paulo, in partnership with Institute Mamirauá, responsible for implementing the Solar Ice project in the region.
The project was awarded in 2014 by Google's Social Impact Challenge in Brazil. The $130,000 awarded was used to install three machines at Vila Nova do Amanã, and one at the Mamirauá Sustainable Development Reserve. "We will monitor the machines' operation for about two years, meanwhile we will be raising funds to install machines in other communities," declared Brito.
According to him, the maintenance of the machines is simple, and they last up to 25 years. "The population is being trained to conduct the community management of this technology," he declared. One goal is to have ice factories helping increase household income. "They won't use all the ice [produced], some of it will be left. An idea is to sell the extra ice to nearby communities and turn it into a source of income."
For the specialist, initiatives linked to solar power may be a solution at the Amazon, where many people still live in the dark. "I believe that in the short term [regular] electricity will not be provided for some parts of the Amazon. The solution will be to install isolated systems, both for lighting and for ice production, water pumping, etc.”
Translated by Amarílis Anchieta
Fonte: Solar ice maker benefits community from Amazon
