Brazilian Wind Power Potential

Wind energy in Brazil could increase capacity by 1GW annually in the next 10 years, according to Lauro Fiuza Jr, president of Brazil's wind energy association ABEEólica. He believes the Brazilian government needs to come up with a long-term wind power program for that to happen.

Fiuza contends the program must include holding seperate wind power auctions, linking transmission lines directly to wind farms and ensuring the freedom to sell carbon credits and PPAs running at least 20 years.

ABEEólica believes a long-term policy would attract major companies to Brazil, increasing the sector's competitiveness. "Brazil has limited suppliers and its curcial to increase the number of investor to boost the sector," he said at an energy conference in Rio. "Current installed capacity in wind power in Brazil is only 256MW and the country has 143GW of estimated potential, not including offshore."

The belief in Brazil that wind energy is expensive is a major obstacle for the renewable soucr. "Wind power is less expensive than imaginable because it costs less than a third of a fossil liquid fuel-fired thermo plant," he said.

Brazil's government has said it will hold a wind power auction next year.

Source: http://www.windenergynews.com/content/view/1427/45/ Date: 09-10-08