Petrobras requests environmental license to explore wind energy in 10 maritime areas

Petrobras officially announced this Wednesday (13) its entry into the offshore wind energy generation segment (offshore), considered one of the bets on the energy transition. According to the president of the state-owned company, Jean Paul Prates, the company requested environmental licensing from Ibama in 10 maritime areas in six states. The idea is to take advantage of winds that are even stronger and more constant than those on land, almost no competition and the attention of investors.

Requests for offshore wind energy exploration include the coasts of Rio Grande do Norte, Ceará, Maranhão, Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo and Rio Grande do Sul. Together, the areas have the potential to generate up to 23 GW of energy.

“Petrobras today becomes the company with the greatest potential for offshore wind energy in Brazil in terms of capacity registered with Ibama,” Prates told the press at Brazil WindPowera sector event that takes place in São Paulo.

Expectations for the growth of wind energy in the country continue to expand for projects onshore (in land). Wind farms are mostly in the Northeast and should mainly supply the domestic market.

However, although it is a clean and renewable source, the winds on the Brazilian coast are irregular and weaker than those that echo at sea. Therefore, offshore exploration has taken center stage in this renewable source model.

Offshore wind power capacity is almost four times that of existing

A study by the National Confederation of Industry (CNI), released this week, shows that the energy potential offshore Brazilian is around 700 GW, which represents 3.6 times the energy capacity already installed in the country. According to the CNI, until August, Ibama received 78 licensing requests.

It is more expensive and difficult to install a system with wind turbines at sea – given their size, height and lack of stability on the ground, depending on the project. But the investment is worth the return. This is because, according to experts, low-carbon green hydrogen can be produced in these structures and the intention is to export it. In other words, it is a new global, potential market that can pay more.

“We are also investing massively in wind measurement campaigns on fixed platforms offshore Rio Grande do Norte, Ceará and Espírito Santo, and in wind solutions offshore with universities, such as floating wind. The data collected will allow a detailed assessment of the potential offshore and defining the wind farm potential and technologies”, said Prates.

Petrobras invests in mega wind turbine with electronics company Weg

Earlier, Petrobras also announced that it will invest R$130 million to develop a wind turbine. onshore of 7 megawatts (MW) in partnership with the electronic equipment company Weg. The project is already underway and will be the first and largest of its size, according to the company. “The projection is that (the wind turbine) can be produced in series from 2025”, signaled the president of Petrobras.

The wind turbine is 220 meters high from the ground to the tip of the blade, equivalent to the height of six statues of Christ the Redeemer. Its weight is 1,830 tons, which corresponds to the weight of around 1,660 popular cars.