Brazil, the wind energy leader in Latin America, continues to offer major opportunities for wind energy development. As part of the country’s 2010 Alternative Energy Auctions, GE has commitments from four developers to supply more than 400 MW of clean, wind-generated electricity to Brazil’s renewable energy capacity. These commitments include 258 of GE’s advanced 1.5 and 1.6-MW wind turbines.
Customers making commitments to GE from Brazil’s 2010 Alternative Energy Auction are Renova Energia S.A., Dobreve Energia S.A. (DESA), Contour Globa,l and Bioenergy. Projects from the four customers are located in the states of Bahia and Rio Grande do Norte.GE also won more than 400-MW of wind turbine commitments in Brazil’s first technology-specific energy auction, held in 2009.
Details on GE’s commitments resulting from Brazil’s 2010 Alternative Energy Auctions include:
Renova – 163 MW with 102 units
DESA – 60 MW with 38 units
Contour Global – 150 MW with 100 units
Bioenergy – 28.8 MW with 18 units
Renova and DESA previously selected GE technology in the 2009 Brazil wind auctions, while Contour Global and Bioenergy are first-time GE customers. GE’s scope with each of the developers will include the supply, erection and commissioning of the wind turbines, along with service agreements of at least two years.
Traditionally, Brazil has relied heavily on hydropower for its electricity supply. The recent wind auctions reinforce the country’s commitment to make wind power a mainstream source of energy as it continues to expand its renewable energy portfolio.
Brazil is Latin America’s leading wind market with 31.6 GW of capacity expected to be installed by 2025, according to a recent study from IHS Emerging Energy Research. The study also highlights Brazil’s market scale and proactive renewable energy policies as key elements in creating a steady growth in wind power development for the country.
GE has had a presence in Brazil since 1919 and today employs more than 6,000 people in the country. The comapny recently announced plans to invest $500 million to expand its operations in Brazil, including $200 million for new wind turbine and aeroderivative product developments and increased capacity for GE’s Oil & Gas business. As part of the expansion, GE is establishing its newest multi-disciplinary research and development center in Rio de Janeiro. Work at the center will focus on advanced technologies for the renewable energy, oil and gas, mining, rail and aviation industries.
Filed Under: Projects
