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Navigation through the rivers of the Amazon has gained a sustainable ally: the boats of the kara solar project, moved exclusively by solar energy. The initiative, which avoids the use of fossil fuels such as diesel – derived from oil and one of those responsible for global warming – already reaches remote communities in four countries: Ecuador, Suriname, Peru and Brazil.
The project originated in 2012, when leaders of the Ecuador Indigenous People Achuar shared, during a sacred ceremony with traditional Wayusa tea (Ilex Guayusa), the idea of replacing fossil fuels with renewable sources. The proposal was welcomed and developed by the community itself, which created engines and batteries adapted to move vessels with the new technology.
According to project data, the replacement of gasoline engines with solar infrastructure has already avoided the emission of 210 tons of CO₂/ Photo: Reproduction/ Project Kara Solar
In 2018, the first solar boat of Kara Solar sailed the rivers of the Ecuadorian Amazon, marking the beginning of a new phase for sustainable transportation in the region. Since then, the project has expanded its performance: only in 2024, 847 trips were made, totaling 9,660 km traveled and carrying 6,428 passengers, especially for medical care and other essential community services.
The expansion also arrived in Brazil. In 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic, the initiative was presented virtually to local communities. The following year, the electric boat began to navigate the rivers that cut the Tumucumaque Mountains National Park, between Amapá and northern Pará – one of the most isolated areas of the region, where various indigenous peoples live.
According to project data, the replacement of gasoline engines with solar infrastructure has already avoided the emission of 210 tons of CO₂ and reduced the consumption of approximately 26,000 gallons of fuel. In addition, in 2023, about 404 residents of remote communities were trained in solar energy, with a formation ranging from basic level to advanced electrical engineering.
The impact and results of Kara Solar were presented in April this year, during a meeting held in Brasilia that brought together 200 climate activists from 70 countries. The event highlighted the importance of fair energy transition, especially for vulnerable populations.
For Nantu Canelos, the project’s indigenous executive director, the initiative is an example of how traditional knowledge and technological innovation can walk together, boosting sustainable development in the Amazon and strengthening local communities.
With information Folha de São Paulo
