Brazil's wind energy sector is set for substantial growth in the coming years, driven by the anticipated standardization of the regulatory framework for offshore wind energy. Following two years of discussions, a bill outlining the regulatory framework, spearheaded by former senator and current president of Petrobras, Jean-Paul Plates, is slated for a vote in the Chamber of Deputies by year-end.
The global wind energy market is experiencing a surge, with expectations to catapult from 10 GW in 2022 to 46 GW in 2030, as per a report collaborated on by consulting firm A&W and the Brazilian Wind Energy Association (ABEEólica). The study indicates that for every gigawatt of offshore capacity, job creation throughout the production chain could range from 11,000 to 34,000.
Brazil's offshore wind potential is substantial, as highlighted by a 2020 report from the Energy Research Company (EPE), linked to the Ministry of Mines and Energy. The report reveals Brazil's technical potential for electricity generation through offshore wind turbines is estimated at 700 GW, more than three times the existing energy capacity in the country, aligning with EPE's ten-year plan anticipating a 3.4% growth in electricity consumption until 2032.
Up until October, the Brazilian Institute of Environment, Nature, and Renewable Resources (Ibama) received requests for environmental impact studies for approximately 13,000 wind turbines across 78 projects.
While offshore wind farm construction, maintenance, and development present challenges compared to onshore counterparts, including a longer timeline and higher costs (up to $4,700 per kilowatt of installed capacity), the advantages lie in the larger, more wind-absorbent structures and the ease of transportation via sea.
The pending regulatory framework signals Brazil's strategic move to tap into the promising offshore wind energy sector, aligning with global market trends and the nation's substantial technical potential in this renewable energy domain.
