A low cost rural electrification system was developed between 1983 and 1988 in Palmares do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul state, in the South of Brazil. This system is presently very common all over Brazil, in rural areas. It was consolidated at the time the current Founder and Executive Director of IDEAAS worked for the municipality of Palmares do Sul in the position of Secretary of Agriculture, in his search of ways to serve the rural population that lacked access to electricity. The great importance of providing energy was in making agricultural production feasible by pumping water for rice cultivation, beside the immediate impact of improving life quality and keeping people from leaving for the cities.

This system was based on the research work developed by Professor Enio Amaral, at the Federal Technical School in Pelotas, also in Rio Grande do Sul. The system was improved and implemented on the ground by Fabio Rosa, an Agronomist, and Ricardo Mello, Electricity Technician, current Directors of the enterprise STA - Adequate Technology Systems. The cost of providing electricity to rural properties was reduced by 90%, and the entire municipality of Palmares do Sul was served during that period.

Among the consequences and benefits generated is the fact that rural exodus was reverted. People who had left to live in the city for lack of basic life conditions went back to Palmares do Sul to pursue agricultural activities.

Numbers of people served estimated from projects in which Fabio Rosa and Ricardo Mello were directly involved account to over one million people in rural areas all over Brazil. The project was expanded from Palmares with funds from the National Economic and Social Development Bank (BNDES) through the following projects: