Routes for the wind power generation in Brazil

Abstract

Most of the electricity generated in Brazil still comes from hydroelectric plants. In 2021, the country reached a critical hydrological scenario due to low capacities in the reservoirs. Although the installed wind power capacity in Brazil has expanded considerably in recent years, wind generation in the country is limited to the onshore type. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of a new wind farm to be installed in Brazil, comparing several possible conditions and technologies, for installing a wind farm on a predetermined location in the northeast region of the country, the most promising region for wind farms. Based on the literature review, different technology routes that characterize wind farms around the world were identified and, through expert evaluation, the best technology route in terms of cost-effectiveness was defined. The results show that, under current conditions, the onshore route with higher unit power of the wind turbine and tubular tower proved to be the preferred one. However, it was shown that in the medium term, offshore wind energy shall become a reality in the country, as long as favorable regulations and licensing models, political and economic stability, and long-term public policies in terms of incentives and subsidies to attract investments for this type of energy generation are present.