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Construction of Neoenergia's largest wind farm in Brazil started in 2020 and continues at a fast pace, generating many jobs in the region
Neoenergia is advancing in the construction of the Oitis Wind Farm, located in the municipalities of Dom Inocêncio (PI) and Casa Nova (BA). The works started at the end of 2020, three months ahead of the business plan, and, at an accelerated pace, the company has already concreted 39 of the 103 foundations that will receive the wind turbines, which is equivalent to more than 37% of the total. The undertaking will be the largest of the group in Brazil, with 12 wind farms that add up to an installed capacity of 566,5 MW, and commercial operation is scheduled for the 1st half of 2022.
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In addition to the civil works on the wind farms in both states, services were started for the installation of the Oitis substation – which had the base of the transformers concreted – and a transmission line 70 kilometers long, both with voltage of 500 kV. The line will serve to take the energy produced to the Queimada Nova II substation (PI), the park's connection point to the National Interconnected System (SIN).
More than a thousand professionals work on the construction of the Oitis Wind Farm
“We are advancing with civil works, anticipating our business plan, and promoting socioeconomic benefits for the region, in line with the company's purpose of promoting sustainable development in its areas of operation. Today, of the more than a thousand professionals working on the construction of the Oitis Wind Farm, almost 40% are local labor, generating jobs and income. The expectation is to reach 1,5 jobs at the peak of the works”, says Neoenergia's Superintendent of Renewable Projects, Leandro Montanher.
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Among the benefits for the region are free training courses and the donation of 520 food baskets to vulnerable families in the municipalities of Dom Inocêncio and São Raimundo Nonato, in Piauí, and Casa Nova, in Bahia. In addition to the classes for training professionals in areas related to the construction of parks, so that they have opportunities in the works, in partnership with the S System, classes were started on topics such as the provision of food services, information technology, handicrafts and good solid waste practices.
Through a partnership with the Government of Piauí, vaccination against Covid-19 was started for all professionals working on the construction sites of the ten parks in the State. In addition, Neoenergia donated 1,3 PFF2 respiratory protection masks to the City Hall of Dom Inocêncio, the most effective model in preventing the coronavirus; 400 SWAB rapid test units and 200 rapid tests, among other materials to help fight the disease, such as gloves and 70% alcohol.
At the construction sites, measures are being adopted to prevent Covid-19 among employees. The use of masks is mandatory and distancing between professionals is recommended. The company reinforced the hygiene of work areas and guidelines on personal hygiene and provided protective equipment.
The new wind farm will have 96% of the energy generated sold in the Free Contracting Environment (ACL), demonstrating a new business model for Neoenergia, more focused on the free market. Part of the energy has already been sold, ensuring expected rates of return. The installed power of 566,5 MW is equivalent to enough energy to supply a city with 2,7 million inhabitants, population of capitals like Salvador (BA). As it is a clean energy source, Oitis will avoid the emission of 1,2 million tons of CO2 in the atmosphere for 20 years, the same number of emissions of approximately 330 thousand popular cars, that is, the fleet of Florianópolis (SC).
Neoenergia is also advancing with the implementation of the Chafariz Wind Farm, under construction in Paraíba
Neoenergia is also advancing with the implementation of the Chafariz Wind Farm, under construction in Paraíba. Exceeding the expectations of the business plan, the venture's first 29 wind turbines entered commercial operation and have an installed capacity corresponding to 100,48 MW. Delivery is 17 months ahead of the start of the contract term in the regulated market.
In all, there will be 136 turbines distributed in 15 wind farms, with a total installed capacity of 471,2 MW. The commissioning of the equipment was possible thanks to the anticipation of energization and another company project in the region, the Santa Luzia transmission line, which is part of lot 6 of the auction held by the National Electric Energy Agency (Agência Nacional de Energia Elétrica (Aneel) in December 2017. The first stretch was delivered, which includes a new substation and 124 kilometers of line extension, with voltage at 500 kV, between the municipalities of Santa Luzia and Campina Grande. The substation will be the connection point between Chafariz and the SIN and started operating 21 months before the deadline established by the regulatory body.
The venture has operational synergy with the Luzia solar plants, whose works were started by Neoenergia in May and are in the phase of earthmoving the substation plateau. The plants will have an installed capacity of 149,3 MWp and are the company's first large scale centralized photovoltaic generation project. The works began with 100% of the wind farms' energy sold in the ACL by 2026. The company's forecast is that the commercial operation will start in the second half of 2022.
ABOUT NEOENERGIA: Publicly held company with shares (NEOE3) traded on the São Paulo Stock Exchange. Part of the Spanish group Iberdrola, the company has been operating in Brazil since 1997, and is currently one of the leaders in the country's electricity sector. Present in 18 states and the Federal District, its businesses are divided into the areas of generation, transmission, distribution and commercialization. Its distributors, Neoenergia Coelba (BA), Neoenergia Pernambuco (PE), Neoenergia Cosern (RN), Neoenergia Elektro (SP/MS) and Neoenergia Brasília (DF) serve more than 15 million customers, equivalent to a population of over 37 million people.
Neoenergia has 4 GW of installed generation capacity, 88% of which is renewable energy, and is implementing another 1 GW with the construction of new wind farms. In transmission, there are 1,4 km of lines in operation and 5,3 km under construction. Through the Neoenergia Institute, it encourages sustainable development based on socio-environmental actions and, thus, contributes to improving the quality of life in the communities where the company operates, especially the most vulnerable people, always aiming at sustainable development. The company is the first company in the country to exclusively sponsor the Brazilian Women's Football Team, giving its name to the national competition, which is now called Brasileirão Feminino Neoenergia. Since January 2021, it has been part of the B3 Corporate Sustainability Index portfolio – Brasil, Bolsa, Balcão – which brings together companies that have the best corporate governance and sustainability practices.
