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The future of offshore wind energy in Brazil has just received a new boost: Petrobras and SENAI are about to take a new step with the iconic Bravo buoy. In a historic technological development initiative, Petrobras announces an investment of R$60 million for a second phase of the Bravo project, expanding its commitment to the country's energy transition. Following the success of the first unit of the Remote Offshore Wind Assessment Buoy, which completed one year of uninterrupted measurements off the coast of Rio Grande do Norte, the state-owned company is launching five more units to revolutionize offshore wind energy generation.
The new investment cycle aims to expand the collection and monitoring of climate and oceanographic data, which are essential for assessing the potential of Brazilian offshore winds. In collaboration with the SENAI Institute for Innovation in Embedded Systems (Florianópolis) and the SENAI Institute for Renewable Energy (Rio Grande do Norte), Petrobras remains at the forefront of national technologies focused on renewable energy. The first of the five new Bravo buoys will begin operating in December, and the others will be in operation by the end of 2025.
Petrobras to invest R$60 million in second phase of Bravo buoy with support from SENAI
For Petrobras, This is another milestone in the journey towards the energy transition. Maurício Tolmasquim, director of Energy Transition and Sustainability at the state-owned company, highlights that the project not only validates the technology in the open sea, but also represents the largest offshore wind mapping campaign ever carried out in Brazil. “This step is crucial to assess the technical feasibility of future offshore wind power generation facilities in the country,” he points out.
Fabrízio Pereira, SENAI’s regional director in Santa Catarina, emphasizes SENAI’s role in the development of the technology. “The Bravo buoy is a vital contribution to the expansion of offshore wind power generation, reinforcing Brazil’s potential in both hydroelectric and solar energy, and now in ocean wind power,” he says.
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Bravo: a national breakthrough in offshore wind energy
Developed in Brazil by Petrobras and SENAI, Bravo is a floating Lidar (Light Detection and Ranging) model with innovative and entirely national technology. Using laser beams, the Bravo buoy measures wind speed and direction and collects meteorological and oceanographic data that are crucial for generating wind energy on the high seas. Weighing 7 tons and powered by photovoltaic solar panels, Bravo meets all the requirements for mapping areas of energy potential along the Brazilian coast.
In its first year of operation off the coast of Rio Grande do Norte, the Bravo buoy captured climate data over a complete cycle, including during periods of strongest winds, representing a scientific milestone that consolidates offshore wind power generation in Brazil. Antônio Medeiros, R&D coordinator at the SENAI Institute for Innovation in Renewable Energy, emphasizes the importance of this project for analyzing the Brazilian maritime environment.
Petrobras and SENAI: alliance for technological development
Petrobras' investment in Bravo represents an advance in the company's Research, Development and Innovation (RD&I) strategy. first phase of the project was carried out with R$11,3 million from the Electric Energy Sector Research and Technological Development Program, regulated by ANEEL. In this second phase, the investments come from ANP's R&D&I fund, reinforcing Petrobras' commitment to leading innovation in offshore wind power generation.
Renata Baruzzi, Petrobras’ Director of Engineering, Technology and Innovation, highlights the value of national partnerships to strengthen the company’s leadership in the energy transition. “Through alliances with SENAI and other institutions, we drive the development of renewable energy technologies, especially in offshore wind generation projects,” she says.
SENAI: innovation and technology network for Brazilian industry
With a network of 28 innovation institutes and more than 60 technology institutes in various regions of the country, SENAI collaborates intensively with Brazilian industry to promote advances in innovation and technology. SENAI units in Santa Catarina stand out in the areas of Laser Processing, Manufacturing Systems and Renewable Energy, and, through support for projects such as the Bravo buoy, they have consolidated themselves as essential players in the transition to a more sustainable energy matrix.
This collaboration between Petrobras and SENAI not only boosts the generation of offshore wind energy, but also reaffirms the strategic role of research and development in building a greener, more innovative and energy self-sufficient Brazil. With the launch of the new Bravo buoys, Petrobras and SENAI pave a promising path towards a sustainable energy future for Brazil.
