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Kyocera Solar has completed a solar-lighting project on the Acro Metropolitano do Rio de Janeiro, a highway project connecting the five main highways crossing Rio de Janeiro. More than 4,300 solar-powered LED streetlights are powered by a 3.2MWdc solar generation system.
Slightly more than half of the 145-km highway will be lit at night by stand-alone solar streetlights powered by Kyocera solar modules, installed by Soter over the last two years with funding from the Rio de Janeiro State Government. The solar modules are expected to generate 2.8GWh of solar energy per year. This enormous transportation initiative is helping to streamline transit logistics, improve traffic and reduce importing costs throughout the region — especially for industries such as petrochemicals, which export from the Port of Itaguaí. Improved transportation is expected to stimulate economic growth in this rural region, which was not easily accessible in the past.
“Kyocera continues to be dedicated to solar solutions that are helpful in rural areas,” said Sergio Beninca, President of Kyocera Solar do Brasil. “This solar lighting project helps contribute by not overburdening the energy grid system that many lower-income households in the area depend on.”
The Acro Metropolitano project would create 16,000 jobs in the region and generate US$90 million in tax revenue from sales tax generated at the municipal and federal levels. In addition, utilizing solar power allows the Brazilian government to deliver reliable light on the highway in areas without traditional electricity grids.
The Kyocera Solar Streetlight Kit, available now, includes: one 150W LED lamp, three solar modules (Kyocera KD250), four 240Ah/ 12Vcc batteries, one controller (TS-MPPT-45/ 48Vcc), one photocell, and one pole with mounting structures.