Published

2 years ago

April 4, 2024

Alice Rush

Dancing with the Trade Winds: Exploring Brazil’s Wind Farm Landscape

From the sun-drenched shores of Bahia to the rugged plateaus of the Northeast, Brazil’s diverse landscape embraces not just vibrant culture and natural beauty, but also the power of the wind.

As a global leader in wind energy production, Brazil boasts a network of wind farms that paint a picture of innovation and sustainability. Let’s embark on a breezy journey, exploring the statistics, key projects, and future prospects of this dynamic sector.

A Statistical Snapshot:

Installed Capacity: As of 2023, Brazil stands strong with an impressive 22.6 gigawatts (GW) of installed wind power capacity, contributing over 13% of the nation’s electricity demand. This translates to generating roughly 51 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity annually, significantly reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

Growth Trajectory: Brazil’s wind power sector has experienced remarkable growth, averaging a 14.8% annual increase in installed capacity over the past decade. This translates to adding roughly 3.3 GW of new wind power capacity every year, solidifying its position as a wind energy leader.

Geographic Distribution: Wind farms strategically dot the Brazilian landscape, with the Northeast region taking the lead due to its strong and consistent trade winds. States like Bahia, Rio Grande do Norte, and Ceará hold the top positions. Other notable regions include the South and Southeast.

Landmark Projects:

Oitis Wind Complex: Situated across Piauí and Bahia states, this complex comprises 12 individual wind farms boasting a combined capacity of 566.5 MW. Its 462 turbines stand as the largest onshore wind farm project in Latin America and the second largest in the world, showcasing the potential of large-scale development.

Lagoa dos Ventos Wind Farm: Nestled in Rio Grande do Norte, this project holds the title of the largest onshore wind farm in Brazil with a capacity of 716 MW. Its 292 turbines stand tall, harnessing the region’s abundant wind resources and contributing significantly to national power generation.

Uruguaiana Offshore Wind Farm: Located off the coast of Rio Grande do Sul, this project marks Brazil’s foray into offshore wind energy, boasting a planned capacity of 1,100 MW. With construction expected to begin in 2024, it represents a pivotal step towards diversifying the nation’s renewable energy portfolio.

Looking Ahead:

Brazil’s ambitious goal targets 50 GW of installed wind power capacity by 2030, requiring sustained investment, technological advancements, and social responsibility. With a commitment to climate change mitigation and energy security, wind power stands as a cornerstone in Brazil’s transition to a greener future.

To illuminate the Brazilian wind farm landscape, here are two data tables

Table 1: Top 5 States by Installed Wind Power Capacity (as of 2023):

State	Installed Capacity (GW)	Percentage of National Total
Bahia	5.9	26.1%
Rio Grande do Norte	3.5	15.5%
Ceará	2.7	11.9%
Piauí	2.2	9.8%
Rio Grande do Sul	1.7	7.5%

Table 2: Projected Wind Power Capacity Growth in Brazil:

Year	Installed Capacity (GW)	Projected Annual Increase (%)
2025	28.0	7.5%
2030	36.0	5.7%
2035	43.0	4.3%
2040	48.0	2.3%
2050	50.0	0.8%

The Road Ahead:

The Brazilian wind power sector faces challenges including grid integration limitations, environmental concerns, and social impacts on local communities. However, innovative solutions, policy advancements, and community engagement offer promising opportunities. By navigating these challenges and capitalizing on its strong wind resources, Brazil can solidify its position as a global wind energy leader, contributing to a more sustainable future for itself and the world.

https://www.exaputra.com/2024/02/exploring-brazils-wind-farm-landscape.html

Related Topics:Brazil landscape wind farms

Up Next

Comprehensive Exploration of Wind Farms in the United Kingdom

Don't Miss

Amphenol Industrial Commences U.S. Solar Manufacturing Facility Operations

Alice Rush

Renewable Energy

Renewable Energy Concepts Can’t Violate the Laws of Physics

Published

15 hours ago

February 28, 2026

Alice Rush

In the early days of 2GreenEnergy, my people and I were vigorously engaged in finding solid ideas in cleantech that needed funding in order to move forward.

I vividly remember a conversation with a guy in Maryland who was trying to explain the (ostensible) breakthrough that he and his team had made in hydrokinetics. When I was having trouble visualizing what we was talking about, he asked me to “think of it as a river in a box.”

“Oh!” I exclaimed. “You mean you take a box full of standing water, add energy to it get it moving, then extract that energy, leaving you with more energy that you added to it.”

“Exactly.”

I politely explained that the laws of physics, specifically the first and second laws of thermodynamics, make this impossible.

He wasn’t through, however, and insisted that, in his office, his people had constructed a “working model.”

Here’s where my tone descended into something less than 100% polite. I told him that he may think he has a working model, but he’s wrong; if he believes this, he’s ignorant; if he doesn’t, but is conducting this conversation anyway, he’s a fraud.

“But don’t you want to come see it?” he implored.

“No. Not only would not fly across the country to see whatever it is you claim to have built, I wouldn’t walk across the street to a “working model” of something that is theoretically impossible.”

—

I tell this story because the claim made at the upper left is essentially identical. You’re pumping water up out of a stream, and then claiming to extract more energy when the water flows back into the stream.

Of course, social media today is rife with complete crap like this. We’ve devolved to a point where defrauding money out of idiots is rapidly replacing baseball as our national pastime.