THE BACKGROUND
In the remote villages of the Peruvian Amazon, access to reliable electricity is not a convenience — it is the difference between subsistence and opportunity. For the community of Soledad, that opportunity came in the form of a partnership between two organizations committed to long-term, community-led development.
Terra Nuova, an Italian non-governmental organization (NGO) with decades of experience supporting sustainable livelihoods across Latin America, joined forces with ASPAAW, a local women's association rooted in the Peruvian Amazon. Together, they established a plantain flour production facility in Soledad — designed not only to add value to locally grown plantain crops, but to create stable employment and build lasting economic infrastructure for the community.
NGOs like Terra Nuova operate independently of government, filling critical gaps in regions where public services and private investment rarely reach. In Soledad, that meant building something the community could truly call its own: a facility that creates jobs, supports local farmers, and produces a staple food product for broader markets.
THE CHALLENGE
When Light Up the World (LUTW) installed the first solar energy system at the facility in 2022, it marked a turning point. Production began, eight community members gained full-time employment, and local plantain farmers — who had long struggled to find reliable buyers — finally had a consistent market for their harvest.
But success created new demands. The facility's machinery — industrial ovens, drying fans, a plantain slicer, a grinder, water pumps, and bag sealers — required more power than the original system could reliably provide. As the operation grew in reputation and output, it became clear that the facility's potential was being constrained by its energy capacity.
To double its workforce, significantly increase production, and cement its role as an economic anchor for Soledad, the facility needed a system built for industrial scale.
THE SOLUTION
In close coordination with Terra Nuova and ASPAAW, a new solar energy system was designed and installed to meet the full demands of the facility — both today and as it continues to grow.
The system features 32.6 kWp of solar generation capacity paired with 40 kWh of battery storage, delivered by 8 × V5 Pytes battery units. A total of 56 solar panels — generously donated by Silfab Solar — were mounted on the facility's metal roof using clips kindly provided by S-5!, purpose-built for standing seam metal roofing. Victron Energy charge controllers and inverters manage power conversion and distribution, delivering 18.5 kW of reliable AC output to support all production machinery simultaneously.
The system is connected via satellite internet, enabling remote performance monitoring, real-time diagnostics, and over-the-air updates — ensuring consistent uptime and fast response to any issues, regardless of the facility's remote location.
System Specifications:
Monitoring: Satellite internet connectivity
THE RESULTS
The impact was immediate and measurable. With stable, industrial-grade energy now powering the full production line, the facility has been able to operate at a new level of capacity and reliability.
Since the expanded system came online, the facility has doubled its workforce from 8 to 16 full-time employees — all from the local community. Plantain farmers across the region continue to benefit from a reliable, local processing partner, creating a supply chain that keeps value within the community rather than exporting it elsewhere. Production output is projected to increase substantially through 2026, meeting growing market demand while maintaining the cooperative, community-first model that Terra Nuova and ASPAAW built from the ground up.
What began as a single solar installation in 2022 has grown into one of the most impactful rural energy-for-livelihoods projects in the region. Soledad's plantain flour facility now stands as a model for how clean energy, when paired with strong community partnerships, can become a genuine engine of economic development — not just for a business, but for an entire community.
Partners: Terra Nuova · ASPAAW · Light Up the World (LUTW) · Silfab Solar · S-5! · Victron Energy
Location: Soledad, Peru | System commissioned: 2025
