Wind Parks in Brazil
Brazil is turning into a big player in terms of wind energy production, and it is just starting to further develop this sector with the construction of several wind parks. In this article, we will learn more about wind parks in Brazil.
Brazil is a tropical country, with an extensive coastline of more than 8.000 km. This makes it an ideal place for the development of wind energy. Despite the first wind turbine only being installed in 1992, the participation of wind energy in the production of national energy is currently about 4,7%, a growth of more than 820% between 2006 and 2013.
Much of that growth is due to the creation of PROINFA, short for Programa de Incentivo às Fontes Alternativas de Energia Elétrica, which is Portuguese for Incentive Program for Alternative Sources of Energy. The program encourages the development of the national production of alternative renewable energy sources.
According to ABEEólica, the Brazilian Association of Wind Power, there are, as of May 2015, 262 wind parks operating in Brazil, as well as 437 others under construction or where the planning has already been agreed upon.
Electricity produced by these wind parks is sold to consumers such as large companies and shopping malls, through auctions with fixed prices.
Here are some of the largest wind parks in Brazil, in terms of installed capacity:
Verace
The Verace wind park is actually a wind energy production complex, consisting of ten different wind parks. All of them started operating in February 2015 and each has an installed capacity ranging between 18 MW and 30 MW, amounting to a total installed capacity of 258 MW.
The wind energy production complex is located in the city of Santa Vitória do Palmar, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul in the Southern region of Brazil, and is owned by Eletrosul and FIP Rio Bravo.
Morro dos Ventos
The Morro dos Ventos wind energy production complex consists of six different wind parks, all of which started operating between March 2014 and April 2015. Each wind park’s installed capacity ranges from 28,8 MW to 30 MW, amounting to a total installed capacity of 174,3 MW.
Located near the city of João Câmara, in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, in the Northeastern region of Brazil, the wind energy production complex is owned by Dobrevê Energia S.A.
União dos Ventos
The União dos Ventos wind energy production complex consists of 10 different parks with installed capacities ranging from 11,2 MW to 22,4 MW each, amounting to a total installed capacity of 168 MW. These are located in the cities of Pedra Grande and São Miguel do Gostoso, in the state of Rio Grande do Norte in the Northeastern region of Brazil. All of them started operating in April 2014 and are owned by the Grupo Serveng Energia.
Asa Branca
The Asa Branca wind energy production complex is composed of five different wind parks, all located in the city of Parazinho in the state of Rio Grande do Norte. These wind parks started operating between December 2014 and January 2015 and each have an installed capacity of 30 MW each, amounting to a total installed capacity of 150 MW. They are owned by Asa Branca Energias Renováveis S.A.
Alegria
The Alegria wind energy production complex consists of Alegria I and Alegria II, both in the city of Guamaré in the state of Rio Grande do Norte. Both amount to an installed capacity of 151,6 MW and are owned by New Energy Options Geração de Energia S/A.
Alegria I was constructed in December 2010 and has an installed capacity of producing 51 MW and Alegria II was finished in December 2011 and possesses an installed capacity of 100,6 MW.
Renascença
The Renacença wind energy production complex is composed of five different wind parks, all located in the city of Parazinho. These wind parks were delivered on December 2014 and each have an installed capacity of 32 MW each, amounting to a total installed capacity of 160 MW. It is owned by Grupo Energisa.
Faísa
The Faísa wind energy production complex consists of five different parks with installed capacities ranging from 25,2 MW to 29,4 MW each, amounting to a total installed capacity of 136,5 MW. These parks are located in the city of Trairi, in the state of Ceará in the Northeastern region of Brazil. All of them started operating between March and October 2014 and are owned by the holding Eólica Faísa Ltda.
Santa Clara
The Santa Clara wind energy production complex comprises of six different wind parks, with installed capacities ranging from 2 MW to 30 MW each, amounting to a total installed capacity of 110 MW. Located in the city of Parazinho in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, the complex is owned by CPFL Energias Renováveis S.A.
Praia Formosa
The Praia Formosa wind park is located near the city of Camocim, in the state of Ceará and was finished in September 2008. It has an installed capacity of producing 105 MW and is owned by Eólica Formosa Geração e Comercialização de Energia S.A.
Mangue Seco
The Mangue Seco wind energy production complex is composed of four different wind parks, all located in the city of Guamaré. These wind parks were delivered between September and November 2011 and each have an installed capacity of 26 MW, amounting to a total installed capacity of 104 MW. It is the first wind park owned by Petrobras.