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Good winds are blowing strong in northeastern Brazil, and the sector has accumulated record-breaking power generation. Brazil is in sixth place in the global ranking of the Global Wind Energy Report 2023 with 24GW of onshore wind installed capacity.
The report shows the country installed the third most new wind power plants in 2022, only behind China and the United States (US). To get an idea of what this growth looks like, the sector had less than 1GW installed in the country a decade ago.
According to the Brazilian Association of Wind Energy (ABEEólica), the expectation is that by 2024, Brazil will have at least 30 GW of installed wind energy capacity, considering only auctions already held and contracts signed. New auctions will add more installed capacity for years to come.
Figure 1: Evolution of Installed Capacity in MW from 2005 to 2024. The future data presented in the chart above refer to contracts made possible in auctions already held and in the free market. Source: Brazilian. Electricity Regulatory Agency (ANEEL) and ABEEólica
The northeast has 80% of Brazilian wind farms
Specialists claim that diversifying Brazilian energy sources is essential since the country has abundant natural resources and great energy potential.
The favourable quality of Brazilian winds for wind power generation stands out globally. Brazil has a capacity factor (wind productivity) that is above average, as shown below.
The Northeast accounts for 80% of Brazilian wind energy farms. This is because the region has more constant winds, has stable speed, and does not change direction very often.
The state of Rio Grande do Norte is the largest producer of wind energy in the country, and its installed capacity is expected to grow in the coming months. The wind is more intense from June to December, coinciding with the months with less intensity of rain.
Today, the region consumes just over 1GW of energy, while wind production capacity exceeds 5GW. Thus, the state contributes to the entire national system.
The great potential of the Brazilian energy and electrical matrix
Clean and renewable energies account for 48% of Brazil's total primary energy supply, while the world average is 14%.
Wind, solar, hydro, and biomass sources account for 83% of the electricity matrix, a level almost without equivalence in the world. Despite this, Brazilians feel the heavy cost of tariffs in their pockets.
Wind jobs in demand in Brazil
The sector has around 260,000 workers, according to a global survey by GWEC Market Intelligence. Wind energy's growth may be fundamental not only for the environment but also for the country's economic recovery.
Of the 480,000 trained workers needed worldwide, 308,000 will be employed to build and maintain onshore wind projects and 172,000 for offshore wind farms, according to the Global Wind Workforce Outlook 2021-2025.
More than 70% of this new global demand will come from ten countries: Brazil, China, Japan, India, Mexico, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, USA and Vietnam.
We currently partner with many companies in the industry that are in demand for the following roles.
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Three onshore wind projects starting to operate in 2023
There are 86 onshore wind projects planned over the next 5 years, with a total investment of $36bn. The Bahia (14bn), Rio Grande do Norte (5bn), the Rio Grande do Sul (4bn), and Piauí (4bn) are the states investing the most in onshore wind energy projects.
1. Lagoa dos Ventos Wind Farm Complex
Enel Green Power Brasil is constructing the Lagoa dos Ventos V wind farm (399 MW), the second expansion of the complex. Currently, it is the largest operating wind farm in South America. Lagoa dos Ventos has around 1 GW in operation.
Once fully up and running, the project will reach 1.5 GW of installed capacity with 372 wind turbines capable of generating more than 6.7 TWh per year and avoiding the emission of more than 3.6 million tons of CO2 in the atmosphere yearly.
2. Cajuina wind complex
Cajuina Wind Complex is located in Rio Grande do Norte, operated by AES. The project's first phase is the construction of a 314MW, and the second phase is 632.4MW, both expected to start operations this year.
3. Anemus Wind Complex
Located in the cities of Currais Novos and São Vicente, in Sertão of Rio Grande do Norte, the Anemus Complex is 2W Energia's first wind farm.
The project has three wind farms and 33 wind turbines that together will have an installed capacity of approximately 139MW. Power will be sold to customers in Brazil's Free Contracting Environment (ACL).
20 offshore wind projects to watch
Wind energy is still an unprecedented source at sea in Brazil. But, according to Brazil's environmental regulator (Ibama), there are 20 projects in the licensing phase that may come into operation in the upcoming five years.
Together they would have 42GW of power. The generation of renewable energy is on the radar of multinationals such as Equinor, Neoenergia, EDP and Engie. The offshore wind potential in water depths of up to 50 meters is 700GW.
Find out the 20 offshore wind projects distributed in seven Brazilian states.
Ceará
Offshore Jangada Wind Complex
This is the largest project in terms of power and the number of turbines. With a capacity of 3GW, the wind complex operated by Neoenergia - a company of the Iberdrola group - will have four 750MW sections and up to 200 turbines.
Asa Branca Offshore Wind Farm
With a capacity of up to 720MW, this project will have 60 wind turbines of 12MW each. Asa Branca is developed by Eólica Brasil.
Caucaia Offshore Wind Farm
Development of an offshore wind farm with a capacity of 598MW. A total of 48 turbines with a capacity of 12MW each is planned to be installed 2-9 km offshore.
In addition, 11MW turbines will be installed on breakwater piers. The project is located 14km from the ports of Pecém and Mucuripe.
Camocim Offshore Wind Farm
Development of a 1.2GW offshore wind farm. Operated by BI Energia, the park is planned to have 100 turbines of 12MW each.
Bahia
Nova Energia Offshore Wind Farm
The project, in Bahia, 200 meters from the coast and operated by Sowitec, is the smallest in the number of turbines and power among the 20 underway. Nova Energia anticipates one turbine with a capacity of 3.4MW.
Espírito Santo
Votu Winds Offshore Wind Farm
The project foresees 1,440MW of capacity from the installation of 144 turbines with 10MW each.
Piauí
Vento Tupi Offshore Wind Farm
Development of a 999MW wind farm with 74 wind turbines of 13.5MW each. The project will be operated by Ocean Winds, a 50-50 joint venture between EDP Renewables (EDPR) and ENGIE.
Palmas do Mar Wind Farm
The project, by Bosford Participações, will have 93 turbines generating 1,395MW in total.
Rio de Janeiro
Ventos do Atlântico Offshore Wind Farm
The Ventos do Atlântico project, operated by Ocean Winds, is the second largest in the country, with 371 wind turbines and just over 5GW of power.
Ocean Winds is a 50-50 joint venture between EDP Renewables (EDPR) and ENGIE.
Maravilha Offshore Wind Farm
Development of a 3GW capacity wind farm. The project consists of four 750MW sections, each featuring 50 turbines.
Operated by Neoenergia, the Maravilha project is located close to the oil and gas production infrastructure operated by Petrobras. Neoenergia is a company of the Iberdrola group.
Aracatu Offshore Wind Complex
With a total capacity of 3.8 GW and 320 turbines, the Aracatu complex will be developed by Equinor.
Ventos Offshore Fluminenses Wind Farm
Operated by Bosford Participações, the project foresees 188 turbines.
Rio Grande do Norte
Ventos de Potiguar Offshore Wind Farm
Development of a 2.48GW offshore wind farm located 8.2 km off the coast of Rio Grande do Norte. Operated by Internacional Energias Renováveis, the project foresees the installation of 207 turbines with a capacity of 12MW each.
Pedra Grande Offshore Wind Farm
Operated by BI Energia, this offshore wind farm will have 624MW of capacity with 52 turbines of 12MW each.
Maral Offshore Wind Farm
The project is the development of an Offshore Wind Farm with 2.01GW of capacity, which will be operated by Ocean Winds (a 50-50 joint venture between EDP Renewables (EDPR) and ENGIE). In total, 149 turbines with 13.5MW each are planned.
Alisios Potiguares Offshore Wind Farm
Alisios Potiguares of Bosford Participações will comprise 123 generators of 15MW each.
Rio Grande do Sul
Ventos do Sul Offshore Wind Farm
With 6.5GW of power, Ocean Winds' project (a 50-50 joint venture between EDP Renewables (EDPR) and ENGIE) may be the largest in the country. The project will have 482 turbines.
Águas Claras Offshore Wind Complex
Development of a 3GW offshore wind complex operated by Neoenergia, an Iberdrola group company. The project comprises four 750MW sections, each with 50 15MW turbines.
Tramandaí Offshore Wind Farm
Development of a 702MW offshore wind farm located 6km off the coast of Rio Grande do Sul. Operated by Ocean Winds — a 50-50 joint venture between EDP Renewables (EDPR) and ENGIE — the project will feature 52 turbines with a capacity of 13.5MW each.
Ventos Litorâneos Offshore Wind Farm
This wind farm owned by Bosford Participações has an installed capacity of 1.2GW.
How can Airswift help? Renewable energy staffing!
Airswift is committed to supporting the energy transition. We have over 300,000 Brazilian candidates available to work in the wind energy sector, and our dedicated team can support clients throughout the entire wind project lifecycle onshore and offshore.
From our office in Brazil, Airswift has hired over 4000 workers in the last 15 years and is the green recruitment company of choice for the most significant projects.
This is the second article of the series on Clean Energy in Brazil. Read also:
This post was written by: Nana Terra, Content Marketing Coordinator
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