Lighting projects in Brazil

We light up Brazil's artistic and cultural heritage

Iberdrola is implementing several lighting projects in Brazil, seeking to boost local development and sustainable tourism. Through Instituto Neoenergia, its Brazilian subsidiary's foundation, it has contributed to improving the lighting of historic buildings in the states of Bahia, São Paulo, Recife and Rio Grande do Norte, with a total investment of about 1.5 million Brazilian reais.

Illumination of the Fortress of Santo Amaro dae Barra Grande, in Guarujá (Brazil).

Convento de Nossa Senhora da Conceição en Itanhaém

On 10 December 2024, the Neoenergia Institute inaugurated the new eco-efficient lighting of the Nossa Senhora da Conceição Convent in Itanhaém. This building, built 492 years ago, located in the historic centre of the municipality of Itanhaém in São Paulo, is the seventh historic building in the Neoenergía Institute's Cultural Lighting Programme.

The Convent was lit up with its new lights consisting of energy-efficient, high-performance LED floodlights that not only enhances the beauty of the building's architecture but can also generate savings of up to 60% on electricity.

This project by the Neoenergia Institute’s Cultural Lighting Programme was made possible thanks to partnerships with the City of Itanhaém, the Diocese of Santos, Brasilis Produções Culturais and Neoluz, which contribute to improving Brazil's historic lighting.

Câmara Cascudo Memorial (Natal)

In February 2020, Instituto Neoenergia delivered the new cultural lighting for the Câmara Cascudo Memorial, in the historic centre of Natal (Rio Grande do Norte). It consists of 53 spotlights with LED bulbs that illuminate the statue of Luís da Câmara Cascudo, Brazil's greatest folklorist, and the façade of the building. This is a totally automatic system with sensors that switch the lamps on and off depending on the ambient natural light. This system and the LED bulbs reduce the building's electricity consumption by 65 % compared with the traditional system.

Illumination of the Câmara Cascudo Memorial, in Natal (Brazil).

The initiative, which was carried out in collaboration with the José Augusto Foundation, is part of a program to improve the historical, artistic and cultural heritage of historic buildings in the states where Neoenergia^*, Iberdrola's subsidiary in Brazil, operates.

Fortress of Santo Amaro da Barra Grande (Guarujá)

In April 2019, Instituto Neoenergia inaugurated the new lighting for the Fortress of Santo Amaro da Barra Grande, a National Historical Heritage Site in Guarujá (São Paulo). This is the only Spanish fort in Brazil. It was built in 1584 during the Iberian Union and also houses the city's first historical museum. It is a candidate for the title of UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Illumination of the Fortress of Santo Amaro dae Barra Grande, in Guarujá (Brazil).

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Illumination of the Fortress of Santo Amaro dae Barra Grande, in Guarujá (Brazil).

The project involved the replacement of the entire existing electrical and lighting systems with new ones, which are 25 % more efficient. The entire interior has been brought to life by lighting up previously unlit spaces and supplying electricity to them. New lighting points were added to the exterior lighting to point up the ramparts of the fortress.

It is calculated that the new equipment will last 20 times longer than conventional lighting.

Fort of São Tiago das Cinco Pontas (Recife)

The Fort of São Tiago das Cinco Pontas is one of the most important monuments of Brazil's colonial heritage. Built in 1630 during the Dutch occupation of what are now Recife and Olinda, it houses the Recife City Museum, with photographs, maps and archaeological fragments showing the history of Recife's urban development since the 17^th century. It is currently competing with 18 other Brazilian forts for the status of UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Illumination of the Fort of São Tiago das Cinco Pontas, in Recife (Brazil).

In 2018, Instituto Neoenergia, in collaboration with the Recife city council, installed a a new LED lighting system on the ramparts of the fort, the scene of battles between the Portuguese and Dutch, which saves over 30 % of the power needed by the previous system. The façade is now lit by 66 light projectors which can change colour for different commemorative and social events.

Cruz de Cabrália (Santa Cruz Cabrália, Bahia)

In 2016 the scenic Cross of Cabrália was lit, a national symbol located on the islet of Coroa Vermelha, in the municipality of Santa Cruz Cabrália (Bahia). Here, the first mass in Brazil was celebrated on 26 April 1500 by Friar Henrique Soares.