Corio Generation and Brazilian port developer Prumo have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to explore using the Port of Açu, north of Rio de Janeiro, for the deployment of Corio’s future wind projects.
Port of Açu, the largest deep water and private industrial port complex in Latin America, is expected to play a key role in supporting Brazil’s offshore wind sector due to its proximity to proposed wind farm sites.
The MoU agreed between Corio and Prumo will see the two companies explore using the Port of Açu as a strategic base for Corio’s offshore wind deployment, involving the potential reservation of a dedicated area for future wind farm installation, operation and maintenance.
Corio is aiming to develop five Brazilian offshore wind farms totalling up to 6GW, as part of its growing 30+ GW global portfolio of projects across the Americas, Asia-Pacific and Europe.
Sites for the proposed fixed-bottom wind farms in Brazil, each around 1.2 GW in size, have been registered in the country’s north-eastern, south-eastern and southern maritime areas.
Jonathan Cole, chief executive of Corio Generation, a portfolio company of Macquarie Asset Management, said: “To support the deployment of offshore wind farms in Brazil, it is critical that we have first-class port infrastructure for wind farm installation, operation and maintenance.
“At Corio we know how important partnerships are to the successful delivery of major energy infrastructure.
“This is why we’re delighted to work with regional leader Prumo to explore the future potential of the Port of Açu as a strategic base for a pioneering new industry that could bring enormous benefits to the people of Brazil.”
Rogério Zampronha, chief executive of Prumo, said: “We’re happy to celebrate this partnership with Corio, a renewables giant.
“We already have 33GW of offshore wind projects off the coast of the Port of Açu under licence by Ibama (the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources).
“Around 35% of a wind project is logistical, so this makes the Port of Açu with its excellent infrastructure an unbeatable solution for the installation of these wind farms.”
Corio is developing its proposed 6GW portfolio of fixed-bottom offshore wind projects in Brazil together with Servtec, a leading power generation company which played a major role in the establishment of the country’s onshore wind industry.