UFPA (Federal University of Pará) and Norte Energia, the concessionaire of the Belo Monte Hydroelectric Power Plant, have launched the Poraquê, the first sustainable electric boat in the Amazon, powered by clean and renewable energy. The catamaran is an innovative solution for river transport in the region, where diesel-powered vessels are still widely used.
The name Poraquê refers to the electric fish, typical of the Amazon rivers, symbolizing sustainable technology applied to transportation. The boat is part of SIMA (Intelligent Multimodal System of the Amazon), which also includes two electric buses that already circulate on the UFPA campus in Belém. The sustainable urban mobility system has the capacity to transport 2 people per day and prevent the emission of 161 tons of CO₂ per year.
The catamaran alone will prevent the release of 100 tons of greenhouse gases annually. The boat is powered by two electric motors and powered by 22 photovoltaic solar s installed on its roof, which gives it an autonomy of eight hours without recharging. To ensure its efficiency, a charging station was installed on the UFPA pier, using energy generated by the university's mini solar plants.
The vessel was designed to accommodate up to 25 people, including space adapted for wheelchair s. The project, which received funding from the RDI program of ANEEL (Research, Development and Innovation), began to be developed in 2019 and involved around 30 researchers, including professors and students from UFPA.
In addition to serving as a sustainable means of transportation, the Poraquê is also a floating laboratory for the university, which seeks to stimulate the use of clean technologies in the Amazon region. The project is expected to encourage the replacement of 10% to 20% of local vessels with models powered by renewable energy.
With a naval aluminum structure, the boat needed to be adapted to the weight of the batteries and engines, totaling 7 tons. The vessel will travel a 750-meter route along the Guamá River, with three stops along the way. UFPA campus. The university's vice-rector, Gilmar Pereira da Silva, highlighted the importance of the project as a scientific achievement and a significant contribution to the sustainability and decarbonization of the region.
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