By Brazil Stock Guide – Petrobras (BVMF: PETR4, NYSE: PBR) is considering acquiring solar farms to power key units, including its logistics arm Transpetro. The project, discussed with the Energy Transition and Sustainability division, aims to cut power costs and accelerate the company’s decarbonization agenda.
Transpetro already operates photovoltaic-powered terminals in Guarulhos, São Paulo, and Belém, Pará, according to Reuters. The next step is installing solar panels in Coari, a city in the Amazon that currently relies on diesel generators. The move could reduce operating expenses and carbon emissions while signaling a shift in a highly sensitive environmental region.
“Our idea is that the next solar-powered terminal will be in Coari, in the heart of the Amazon rainforest,” said Transpetro’s CEO Sérgio Bacci during the Rio Pipeline conference.
What’s at stake
Petrobras is following the lead of global giants investing in land dedicated to renewable energy generation. The model reduces reliance on the traditional power grid and shields against electricity price volatility. However, the scale required to cover the company’s total demand is massive, needing thousands of square kilometers of solar panels.
The Coari project is expected to start operations in 2026. For the state-controlled oil major, the investment could deliver significant savings, as electricity is one of the main costs in its logistics chain. For local communities, replacing diesel with solar energy could curb pollution and reduce risks tied to fossil fuel transport in the Amazon basin.
Still, analysts warn that expansion will require heavy infrastructure and logistical investments, in addition to the operational complexity of working in the Amazon biome. The initiative joins other Petrobras renewable energy efforts, including offshore wind and biofuels projects.
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