On September 24 of 2025, the SUNfarming Research and Training Center was inaugurated in Caucaia, Ceará, as part of the Renewable Energy Solutions Programme (RES) of the German Energy Solutions Initiative. Two state-of-the-art agri-photovoltaic structures have been installed to produce organic food at local level, along with photovoltaic systems for technical training aimed for students from regional educational institutions, with a training capacity of up to 200 trainees per year.
The total installed capacity under the RES Project Brazil project amounts to 56,925 kWp. The installed capacity of the SUNfarming Agri-Solar Research and Training Caucaia is 45.425 kWp, with an approximately 205 m2 area for cultivation. Additionally, an agri-photovoltaic plant of 11,5 kWp was also installed in Croatá, Ceará. The project in Caucaia alone will generate approximately 73.581 kWh of green energy per year. Different crops are currently growing under the special glass-glass transparent PV panels, like tomatoes, onions, fruit trees, and aromatic herbs.
The event was attended by regional and local stakeholders and authorities representants, Mr. Alberto Antunes from the Secretary of International Relations of Ceará, Mr. Marcos Sena, and Mr. Felipe Ribeiro from the Municipality of Caucaia, the Attorneys Association of the state of Ceará, represented by Jackes Araújo, as well as the regional social association Lar da Paz, an Addiction Recovery Organization.
The official speeches were given by the Honorable Mrs. Dr. Marlene Pinheiro, Honorary Consul of Germany for Ceará, Piauí, and Maranhão, Mr. Carlos Eid, senior Project Manager of German Energy Agency (dena), Mr. Erwin Hinojosa, Project Manager at SUNfarming GmbH and Mr. Pedro Araujo, Operation Director of SUNfarming Brazil.
The event was enlivened by the Caucaia Department of Culture’s band, which delighted attendees with live music.
Once the speeches and project presentation were over, a tour of the site was conducted to explain the unique features of SUNfarming’s agri-photovoltaic systems and demonstrate their real-world application in Brazil.
The inauguration generated great interest at the national level and had a notable media impact at the local level.
SUNfarming Brazil is confident that this first project will be the spearhead for the construction of future large-scale agri-photovoltaic projects that will have a real social impact on local communities.
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 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/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 Solutions Programme of the German Energy Solutions Initiative.