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Abstract: The Brazilian Amazon Region is living with the consequences of governance based on predatory extraction of its natural resources, bringing little or no benefit to the local population. The region suffers from socioeconomic inequality and lack of basic infrastructure. The populations of the Amazon Region, if and when supplied with electricity at all, are provided with a low quality service based on energy generation from fossil fuels, subject to difficulties in terms of access and logistics, and negative environmental impacts. There have been programs aimed at the universalization of electricity services, such as the current Programa Luz para Todos (Light for All Program), but they have not succeeded in altering this scenario in the North region of the country. In this paper we present the result of these initiatives and an overview of the Isolated Systems in the Amazon Region. We propose in this paper that the provision of electric energy be effectively considered part of a plan for generating wealth and employment for the region''s inhabitants, whilst preserving the environment. The solutions offered to each community should take into account the need to manage renewable energy sources, should be developed together with local populations, and drawing on the lessons learned from other projects. The specific characteristics and needs of the communities should be taken into account and local people should be empowered as citizens by means of their involvement in the development possibilities. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In recent years, renewable and sustainable energy sources have attracted the attention of various investors and stakeholders, such as energy sector agents and even consumers. It is perplexing to observe and anticipate the required levels of photovoltaic generation, which are inherent tasks for such rapid insertion into the electric grid. This distributed/renewable generation must be integrated in a coordinated way such that there is no negative impact on the electric performance of the grid, increasing in the complexity of energy management. In this article, a methodology for photovoltaic generation forecasting is addressed for a horizon of one week ahead, using a new approach based on an artificial neural network (ANN) ensemble. Two main questions will be explored with this approach: how to select the ANNs, and how to combine them in the ensemble. The design of experiments (DOE) approach is applied to the photovoltaic time series factors and ANN factors. Then, a cluster analysis is performed to select the best networks. From this point on, a mixture (MDE) is employed to determine the ideal weights for the ensemble formation. The methodology is detailed throughout the paper and, based on the combination of forecasts, the photovoltaic generation was estimated for a specific panel set located in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, reaching the value of 4.7% for the weekly mean absolute percentage error. The versatility of the proposed method allowed the change of the number of factors to be used in the experimental arrangement, the forecast model, and the desired forecast horizon, and consequently enhancing the forecasting determination. • An ANN ensemble is created for medium-term photovoltaic generation forecasting. • ANNs are selected by using a new design of experiments approach. • The ANN ensemble is built by using a new mixture design of experiments approach. • We predicted the photovoltaic generation for a panel set located in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]