ENERGY - Odebrecht Informa

But that’s not all. In Rio Grande do Sul, Odebrecht
Energia also intends to develop the Povo
Novo Wind Complex, formed by the wind farms
of Porto Novo (7.5 MW), Fazenda Veracruz (22.5
MW) and Curupira (25 MW), located about 40 km
from the Corredor dos Senandes Complex. And the
company’s investments are not restricted to the
South of Brazil. In the northeastern state of Ceará,
the company acquired the Aracati Mutamba Wind
Complex project in August 2011, comprised of 10
wind farms with a capacity of 240 MW. In addition,
there are plans to invest in greenfield projects in
Bahia.
“Brazil has excellent winds,” says Fernando
Chein. “In the Northeast, they are very strong,
but more variable. In the South, the winds are
less intense but they’re steady.” The development
of specific technologies by manufacturers
ensures the best possible use of different types
of wind.
“We are honored to be the first supplier for Odebrecht
Energia’s wind power segment. Our ambition
is to become the company’s partner in all
phases of these projects, from the location of wind
farms to supply,” says Marcos Costa, Alstom’s Vice
President for Power in Latin America. The wind
turbine factory recently opened by Alstom, a longstanding
Odebrecht partner for projects in the energy
sector, is ready to make equipment capable
of generating up to 300 MW/year. “The Brazilian
government has prioritized wind power, and Alstom
wants to be a part of that effort. We have built
a factory in Camaçari for that purpose.” Marcos
Costa also observes that his company is currently
developing a new wind turbine specifically for Latin
America and Brazil: ECO 122, with a 122-m diameter
propeller and power of 2.7 MW. “ECO 122 is
100% suitable for Brazilian winds,” he says.
“We want to harness
our potential”
These constantly evolving turbines will soon
begin to occupy rural areas of Rio Grande, in the
southern part of Rio Grande do Sul. A city whose
development is historically linked to its seaport –
which is once again receiving substantial investments
to increase its capacity to move cargo and
host major maritime projects – its economy will
also get a significant boost from wind farms.
Mayor Fábio Branco emphasizes that the aim is
to diversify the city’s economic activities by making
the most of its natural advantages. “We want to
harness our potential,” he says. “For Rio Grande,
the deployment of wind farms is a watershed. It
will mean a paradigm shift and will have a positive
impact on our entire supply chain,” he predicts.
This is because the arrival of the companies involved
in these projects will provide direct and indirect
work opportunities, increasing employment
and income levels and providing more possibilities
for academic institutions. “As the government, we
want to be facilitators of the process of installing
wind farms. We have an excellent relationship
with the private sector, represented in this case by
Odebrecht, a company that is committed to its local
communities.” Fábio Branco clearly has high
hopes. “We need to make the most of our resources
as soon as possible. Today’s winds will never
blow here again.”
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