On July 21, construction began on SUNfarming’s Agri-Solar Research and Training Centre in Caucaia, Ceará. Just over two weeks later, during the week of August 4, the project was completed and began injecting clean energy into the local power grid. The final ground leveling work and finishing touches on the inverter protection box are currently being completed.
The new plant is located on the grounds of SUNfarming’s Brazilian headquarters and marks a significant milestone in the company’s commitment to sustainable development and technical education.
The facility features both Agri-Solar and Umbrella photovoltaic systems, alongside a dedicated training center equipped with multiple mounting configurations, including sloped roofs, flat roofs, and metal structures in open fields. With a total installed capacity of 45.425 kWp across approximately 500 m², the Training Centre will serve as a practical learning environment for students in collaboration with regional educational institutions. Participants will gain hands-on experience in the installation and removal of photovoltaic systems.
As part of the installation phase, local technical professionals and students from a regional school specializing in photovoltaic technologies participated in hands-on training activities, focusing on the assembly of Agri-Solar structures. Following the completion of the system, SUNfarming hosted a one-day workshop introducing students to the technical features and design principles behind the project.
In parallel, two additional Umbrella system rows were installed in Croatá, located in São Gonçalo do Amarante, less than 60 kilometers from the main facility. This expansion contributes an additional 11.5 kWp to the project’s total capacity.
SUNfarming also completed the installation of a high-efficiency drip irrigation system at the Caucaia site, and the vegetable cultivation phase is now underway, ahead of the plant’s official inauguration on September 24. The integration of solar energy production with sustainable agriculture underscores SUNfarming’s dedication to dual land use—producing both clean energy and local food.
Through its initiatives in Caucaia and Croatá, SUNfarming reaffirms its commitment to technical training, renewable energy, and the social impact of sustainable innovation. Together, the two sites are expected to prevent over 6 tons of CO₂ emissions annually. SUNfarming Brazil continues to advance Agri-Solar projects nationwide, championing sustainability and inclusive development.
German Energy Agency (dena)
The German Energy Agency (dena) is a centre of excellence for the applied energy transition and climate protection. dena studies the challenges of building a climate-neutral society and supports the German government in achieving its energy and climate policy objectives. Since its foundation in 2000, dena has worked to develop and implement solutions and bring together national and international partners from politics, industry, the scientific community and all parts of society. dena is a project enterprise and a public company owned by the German federal government. dena’s shareholder is the Federal Republic of Germany. www.dena.de/en/
German Energy Solutions Initiative
With the aim of positioning German technologies and know-how worldwide, the German Energy Solutions Initiative of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) supports suppliers of climate-friendly energy solutions in opening up foreign markets. The focus lies on renewable energies, energy efficiency, smart grids and storage, as well as technologies such as power-to-gas and fuel cells. Aimed in particular at small and medium-sized enterprises, the German Energy Solutions Initiative supports participants through measures to prepare market entry as well as to prospect, develop and secure new markets. www.german-energy-solutions.de/GES/Navigation/EN/Home/home.html
Renewable Energy Solutions Programme (RES Programme)
With the RES Programme, the German Energy Solutions Initiative of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWE) helps German companies in the renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors enter new markets. Within the framework of the programme, reference plants are installed and marketed with the support of the German Energy Agency (dena). Information and training activities help ensure a sustainable market entry and demonstrate the quality of climate-friendly technologies made in Germany. www.german-energy-solutions.de/GES/Redaktion/EN/Basepages/Services/dena-res.html
This project is supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy as part of the Renewable Energy as part of the Renewable Solutions Programme of the German Energy Solutions Initiative.