Hogan Lovell OffshoreBook 2023 230809 OnlinePDF - Flipbook - Page 25
Offshore Wind Worldwide 2023
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1. STATE AND FUTURE OF
OFFSHORE WIND PROJECTS
1.1 Current state of offshore wind
development and projects
Brazil has significant potential for the
generation of offshore wind energy due
to its extensive coastline spanning over
7,000 kilometers. A number of the country’s
coastal regions are known for having strong
and consistent winds, making them ideal for
harnessing wind power.
1
Brazil’s National Energy Plan 2050, published by the Energy Research Company
(Empresa de Pesquisa Energética, or EPE), a
Brazilian federal governmental agency that
supports the Ministry of Mines and Energy
(Ministério de Minas e Energia, or MME) and
MME in 2020, sets forth an optimistic vision
of the future of offshore wind projects in
the country. The plan is to be revisited and
updated every five years.
With a target of 16 GW of installed capacity
by 2050, 2 in the event that technology costs
are lowered,3 Brazil is committed to harnessing its wind resources and diversifying its
energy mix. With the anticipated development of its offshore wind industry, Brazil
is set to become a significant player in this
renewable energy sector, contributing to the
country’s sustainable growth and efforts to
combat climate change.
By March 2023, 74 applications for offshore
wind farm licenses had been received by
the Brazilian Institute of Environment and
Renewable Natural Resources (Instituto
Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos,
or IBAMA). These offshore projects have an
aggregate generation capacity of 183 MW.4
1.2 Expectations as to future
developments in the market
until 2030 and beyond
As of the date of publication of this guide,
Brazil’s offshore wind industry remains in
the early stages of development. However,
preliminary studies and pilot projects have
been initiated to assess the feasibility and
potential environmental impact of offshore
wind farms. These initiatives serve as a
stepping stone for the future growth of the
sector.
Offshore wind power was included as a
candidate for expansion in Brazil’s Ten-Year
Energy Expansion Plan (PDE 2029) published
in 2020. The PDE 2029 is an annual informative report prepared by the EPE with the guidance and support of the MME. PDE 2029 is
1 According to the National Energy Plan 2050, prepared by the Energy Research Company (EPE) and approved by MME through MME’s Ordinance No.
451/GM/MME. See also: https://www.gov.br/mme/pt-br/assuntos/noticias/mme-e-epe-lancam-o-plano-nacional-de-energia-2050 and https://
www.epe.gov.br/sites-pt/publicacoes-dados-abertos/publicacoes/PublicacoesArquivos/publicacao-227/topico-563/Relatorio%20Final%20do%20PNE%20
2050.pdf (in Portuguese only).
2 The simulations in Brazil’s National Energy Plan illustrate different scenarios due to uncertainties led by technology costs, electricity demand and
decentralization in generation. That is, the analysis does not present a single outcome for the grid by 2050.
3 According to Brazil’s National Energy Plan, unlike the global trend, the utilization of offshore resources requires even greater reductions in technology
costs compared to those considered in the International Energy Agency’s report in 2019. This is due to Brazil’s exceptional conditions, including abundant
and high-quality land resources. These conditions make it difficult for the model to economically prioritize offshore resources, given the current cost
reduction assumptions and the distinct differences between land-based and offshore resources.
4 According to IBAMA by March 24, 2023. See also: https://www.gov.br/ibama/pt-br/assuntos/laf/consultas/mapas-de-projetos-em-licenciamento-complexos-eolicos-offshore (in Portuguese only).
