Wind energy in Brazil: BNDES approves loan for wind farm

The loan also will cover the cost of transmission systems associated wih the wind power plants, which will be located in the northeastern states of Rio Grande do Norte and Bahia.

The five companies that were founded to operate the wind farms are jointly controlled by Neoenergia, a private Brazilian electricity group in which the Spanish company has a minority stake, and Iberdrola Renovaveis do Brazil – each with a 50 percent interest.

Concessions for the wind farms, which will have a combined installed capacity of 138 megawatts and are part of the Brazilian government’s economic growth acceleration program, were awarded in a 2010 alternative energy auction.

Gamesa’s plant in the northeastern Brazilian city of Camacari, Bahia state, will supply the wind farms’ 58 wind turbines.

Wind power in Brazil

1997: 3 MW
1998: 17 MW
1999: 19 MW
2000: 22 MW
2001: 24 MW
2002: 22 MW
2003: 24 MW
2004: 24 MW
2005: 29 MW
2006: 237 MW
2007: 247 MW
2008: 339 MW
2009: 606 MW
2010: 931 MW
2011: 1,509 MW
2020: 20,000 MW (p)

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