From PVC pipes to public lighting: How Biolume and Amanco Wavin bring solar-powered energy to remote communities

Biolume, a Brazilian social-impact enterprise, is proving that innovative thinking, renewable energy, and everyday infrastructure materials can help address one of the Amazon region's most persistent challenges: lack of access to public lighting and reliable electricity. Supported through the Amanco Wavin Brasil Social Innovation Grant Program, the project demonstrates how purpose-driven innovation can create measurable social and environmental impact.

The Challenge

Northern Brazil is one of the country's largest energy-producing regions, yet many remote and riverside communities continue to live with limited or no access to electricity. According to Biolume, more than one million people across the Amazon still lack access to power, creating barriers to safety, education, mobility, and economic development.

Without public lighting, everyday activities such as walking, studying, and participating in community life become significantly more difficult after sunset. The geographic realities of the Amazon further complicate the deployment of conventional infrastructure, making transportation, installation, and maintenance both costly and challenging.

The Solution

To help address these challenges, Biolume developed a solar-powered public lighting system specifically designed for remote communities and areas with limited infrastructure. The technology operates independently from the electrical grid and can be installed quickly thanks to its lightweight construction and mobility.

Using Amanco Wavin's plastic pipes

A distinctive feature of the solution is its structure. Unlike traditional lighting poles, Biolume's solar lighting system is built using Amanco Wavin’s PVC pipes. The use of PVC provides a lightweight, durable and practical alternative that supports transportation and installation in hard-to-reach locations.

Through support from the Amanco Wavin Brasil Social Innovation Grant Program—currently in its 7th edition—Biolume was able to further develop and expand its technology. The grant program supports innovative projects that create community impact while exploring new applications for Amanco Wavin products.

The Role of Amanco Wavin

The relationship between Biolume and Amanco Wavin began through the Social Innovation Challenge, delivered by Enactus, a global organization that helps university students develop impactful social and environmental innovations. Through this program, teams receive funding, mentorship, and access to Amanco Wavin materials to bring their solutions to life.

As explained by Vitória Dutra, President of Enactus UFPA: "Biolume was created with the mission of bringing affordable, clean, and safe lighting to communities living without access to electricity. Along this journey, Amanco Wavin has played a fundamental role from the very beginning. It was through the Social Innovation Challenge, which encouraged teams to develop innovative solutions using Amanco Wavin products, that we were able to transform an idea into a technology capable of creating real impact. With the support of Amanco Wavin, we developed a lighting pole powered by photovoltaic energy and built using PVC pipes and fittings. The company's products were essential in creating a low-cost, durable solution suited to the logistical realities of the Amazon, enabling easy transportation, installation, and maintenance even in remote communities with difficult access. We are very proud of this journey built together and of the results we continue to achieve.”

Vitória DutraPresident of Enactus UFPA

Impact generated

The latest figures shared by the Biolume project team show how the initiative continues to grow in reach and relevance across Amazonian communities and beyond.

As of August 12, 2026, the project has:

Impacted 76,517 people directly and indirectly
Installed 166 solar streetlights
Generated 117,334 kWh of clean energy
Avoided 94 tonnes of CO₂ emissions by replacing polluting energy sources such as diesel-powered generators.
Been replicated in three African countries: Eswatini, South Africa, and Zimbabwe

The project contributes directly to UN Sustainable Development Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy by providing access to renewable energy solutions that increase safety, autonomy, and quality of life in underserved communities.

Recognition and growth

Biolume's innovation and impact have received recognition from multiple organizations. The project won the Amanco Wavin Social Innovation Award in both 2024 and 2025 and has earned additional recognition from institutions focused on sustainability and social entrepreneurship.

The initiative has also gained visibility through the Enactus network, helping showcase how solutions developed in the Amazon can address broader global challenges related to energy access, sustainability, and community resilience.

Looking ahead

From the Amazon to Africa, Biolume demonstrates how locally developed innovation can create lasting social and environmental impact. By combining entrepreneurial thinking, renewable energy, and everyday infrastructure materials, the project shows what is possible when students, communities, and industry work together toward a shared purpose. We are proud to be part of this journey and look forward to seeing its impact continue to grow.