Spanish multinational, Ocean Winds, wants to take advantage of the wind forces on the high seas of Rio Grande do Sul
The governor of Rio Grande do Sul, Ranolfo Vieira Júnior signed, in June, a memorandum with the multinational Ocean Winds, to expand operations of offshore wind power in the state. The memorandum aims at an understanding between the two parties for the development of new offshore wind farm projects, which will generate new job vacancies and was formalized during an event at the Piratini Palace.
Offshore wind energy is a renewable source that has grown in recent years in order to reuse the wind produced at sea to generate electricity. The turbines are placed at sea through foundries and generate a greater amount of energy than the onshore modality, because the winds at sea do not encounter obstacles and turn the blades with greater intensity. However, maintenance costs can be higher. Learn more about the negotiations in this matter.
See how an offshore wind farm works with the video below
Rio Grande do Sul has the capacity to generate up to 114 gigawatts of energy on the high seas, according to experts
The state of Rio Grande do Sul was chosen for its extensive wind power generation capacity. On land, the state manages to reach the mark of 100 gigawatts. However, on the high seas, due to the absence of barriers, this value rises to 114 gigawatts, which highlights the state as a producer of this type of energy.
The head of the civil house of RS pointed out that even with these production values by the state, if they are added together, they only reach 5% of the national capacity of wind energy. That is, there is still much to be explored, considering the breadth of the southern coast.
“Rio Grande do Sul has great potential for generating electricity from renewable sources, with emphasis on wind technology. This signature represents that and is a first step. If the two projects for our coast are completed, we will have investments in the order of R$ 100 billion, with job creation of 10 jobs during construction and 4 in operation”.
Ranolfo Vieira Júnior, governor of Rio Grande do Sul (2022)
Wind energy projects should be fully operational by 2030
The billionaire investments on the coast will be used to expand offshore wind farms. Construction is expected to begin next year and is planned to be completed and operational by 2030.
The new business director of the multinational Ocean Winds, José Partida Solano, stated that at the moment, the projects are in the licensing phase with the Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama). After approval by the institute, the projects will start and promise to bring around 10 new jobs, in addition to greater development for the economy of the southern region.
After all, who is Ocean Winds?
Ocean Winds is a joint venture of the multinational companies Engie (French) and EDPR (Portuguese) and operates in the renewable energy segment, in particular the production of onshore and offshore wind energy. In Brazil, the joint venture has 5 projects, 2 of which are located in the state of Rio Grande do Sul.
Among the projects running in the state, one is located on the North Coast under the name of Marinha de Tramandaí and the other on the South Coast, called Ventos do Sul. The first complex can produce 700 megawatts while the second, due to its greater extension, reaches an impressive value of 6,5 gigawatts. With the new project, new jobs will be generated and greater development for the South region.
