Development of offshore wind energy projects in Rio Grande do Sul, Rio de Janeiro and Ceará may soon be implemented by the private group Neoenergia (Iberdrola)

Neoenergia (Iberdrola) studies the development of offshore wind energy projects in Brazil

Neoenergia, one of the main private groups in the electricity sector, is analyzing the opportunities of the Brazilian offshore wind potential to take advantage of it with wind turbines of more than 10 MW. According to the president, Mario José Ruiz-Tagle Larrain, the company is developing preliminary studies for offshore wind energy projects in Rio Grande do Sul, Rio de Janeiro and Ceará. “There are 3.000 MW of development capacity in each of the areas. We have a lot to work on, but there is certainly an opportunity”, said the executive, who is participating in an event on renewable sources.                            

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Citing the experience of the headquarters of Iberdrola with projects of this type abroad, the executive stated that Neoenergia's goal is to be one of the pioneers in this market, which is experiencing a moment very similar to that experienced at the beginning of the decade. 2000, when Proinfa was promoted by the federal government to stimulate investments in renewable energy sources.  

“We are starting to walk down that path. We have great expectations about this in Brazil and we believe that some projects may take place over a period of five to ten years”, projects the executive.

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Logistical and environmental issues are being analyzed to verify the feasibility  

Ruiz-Tagle Larrain commented that the implementation of these projects still depends on overcoming a series of challenges, citing logistical, environmental and maritime issues as an example, in addition to advances in measuring winds on the Brazilian coast. Furthermore, the executive said he sees opportunities for synergy with offshore projects in the oil and gas industry.

“Brazil has an offshore oil and gas industry that brings great synergy to try to obtain much more reasonable prices here than we see abroad,” he said.

President of Neoenergia said that the company is also studying the possibility of investing in hybrid wind-solar plants

In addition to offshore wind projects, the president of Neoenergia said that the company is also studying the possibility of investing in hybrid wind-solar plants. The company is evaluating a possible project of this type in Paraíba, where it is building the Chafariz Wind Complex, with 471,2 MW.

"Hybrid plants need regulation, as they act individually and not as hybrids, and that makes no sense", argued the executive.

Wind power generation in Brazil will grow exponentially  

Neoenergia's plans in the generation segment also include new natural gas thermal projects, given the opportunities that the new gas law, currently being discussed in the National Congress, can provide. Ruiz-Tagle Larrain explained that the intention is to bring a better balance to the generation portfolio in view of the greater participation of wind sources, the thermal ones would act as a kind of natural cover in this model.

“The price of gas, however, needs a significant reduction (to make new plants viable)”, ponders the executive. Today, Neoenergia owns a thermoelectric plant, Termopernambuco.