The Brazilian government has published rules establishing the regulatory and legal basis for the development of the country’s offshore wind market.
The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) has welcomed the publication of Decree No 10.946 to help facilitate development of offshore wind projects which add up to around 4000MW of capacity.
The decree provides for the assignment of use of physical spaces and the use of natural resources for the generation of electricity from offshore wind and applies to inland waters, territorial sea, exclusive economic zones and the continental shelf.
GWEC chief executive Ben Backwell said: “Brazil has virtually unlimited offshore wind resources and wind energy companies have already presented applications for licensing for 40GW of offshore wind projects in Brazil, representing a unique opportunity to meet growing power demand, develop green hydrogen projects and create vast amounts of investment and skilled jobs.
“This decree provides the clarity and the certainty that the wind industry needs to move ahead and continue to develop large scale projects off the coast of Brazil, while the authorities prepare a full system for licensing areas, as well as competitive auctions and other mechanisms for offtake of power from offshore wind.
“We congratulate Mines and Energy Minister Bento Albuquerqe, the team at the Ministry and our partners at ABBEEOLICA on this vital achievement.”
GWEC has been working closely with Brazilian wind energy association ABEEOLICA to help provide necessary input and experiences from international wind markets, in productive discussion with the Ministry of Mines and Energy and other key stakeholders.
ABEEOLICA CEO Elbia Gannoum said: “Wind Energy already has a long successful history in Brazil onshore, and now, with this decree, we start a new phase with offshore wind.”