Brazil sets Wind Energy as promising area

Due to on-going scarcity of rain of which has intensified the water crisis in the country’s reservoirs, Brazilian government is calling attention to energy resources other than the hydroelectrically based. Alternatively, to the dams, energy based on Biomass and Wind powered are now seen as a solid reality and therefore it implies on call for bids.

The new Minister of Energy, Mr. Eduardo Braga, has affirmed the country has a great potential on renewable energy sources that can measure up to Belo Monte (in reference to one of the world’s largest dams under construction in the north of the country) during a visit to the State energy company Eletrobrás.

Parallel to Brasilia’s intentions, the recent launching of a new Wind Energy Atlas for the Rio Grande do Sul (RS) state has identified new parameters for the sector and put the state as one of the main generators parks in the country, thus becoming a reference in the sector.

The expansion of information creates a big moment for those companies already in the sector, also for industry newcomers who want to produce equipment for the sector. This new map contains information such as intensity and direction, hence, identifying the potential of the wind in certain regions. It can help prepare preliminary feasibility studies on the most suitable locations.

The NBSO phoned some experts in this sector to get a brief look of the most promising areas for building new parks. The real innovation was the inclusion of offshore areas, with technical data taken from the state’s continental shelf – wind parks in RS are strategically placed close to the seashore.

In addition, there is a georeferenced mapping of transmission lines and substations from 69 KV. Currently, Rio Grande do Sul has 634 MW installed in 23 wind farms. Depending on the energy auctions already made, by 2018 the state will have installed capacity of 2053.9 MW in 91 parks – total investment of $ 8.6 billion.

Useful links
www.rechargenews.com/wind/1388245/Brazil-minister-signals-official-interest-in-offshore-wind

http://www.rs.gov.br/conteudo/208628/rio-grande-do-sul-lanca-novo-atlas-eolico