developing a solar powered electric bus at UTE Pecém, a thermal power plant in Ceará. The vehicle, designed by the Plant´s Research & Development area, is expected to begin transporting employees between Fortaleza and São Gonçalo do Amarante as early as 2020.

At the energy used during the 70-kilometer journey between the state Capital and the company will be generated by photovoltaic modules installed in the Pecém I thermal power plant parking lot. ”These panels will charge the bus batteries during the breaks between trips”, explains Cayo Moraes, executive operation manager. The exchange of fossil fuel for a 100% clean source is yet another effort of Pecém TPP to become increasingly sustainable.

UTE Pecém electric bus will bring several innovations in the electric mobility segment, one of them are the organic photovoltaic (OPV) films, placed on the roof of the vehicle and composed of cells capable of generating electricity from sunlight. Due to its flexibility, this technology can be installed on various locations and surfaces such as windows, furniture, doors and walls. “The cells on the roof of the bus will be tested under the weather conditions we have in the Brazilian Northeast Region to supply part of the consumption of services inside the bus, such as refrigeration and reading lights,” says Cayo.

At the research project receives an investment of R$ 4.85 million and goes until November 2020. "At this moment, we are at the stage of purchase and installation of equipment," says Cayo. The research is being carried out in partnership with the São Paulo State University (Universidade Estadual Paulista - Unesp).

About EDP in Brazil 

With over 20 years of experience, EDP is one of the largest private companies in the electricity sector operating throughout the value chain. The Company, which has over 10,000 direct and outsourced employees, operates in Generation, Distribution, Transmission, Trading and Energy Services. It has six hydroelectric and one thermoelectric generation units, and serves about 3.5 million customers through its Distributors in São Paulo and Espírito Santo. Recently, EDP became CELESC main shareholder in Santa Catarina. In Brazil, EDP is a reference in areas such as Innovation, Governance and Sustainability, having been in the B3´s Corporate Sustainability Index (ISE) for 13 consecutive years.