Publications

Survey of Energy Resources 2007

Wind Country Notes

Brazil
According to the Atlas do Potencial Eólico Brasileiro (Brazilian Wind Atlas) the gross wind resource potential is estimated to be about 140 GW. However, only a portion of that amount could be effectively transformed into wind power projects.

In 2002 the Brazilian Government launched PROINFA - Alternative Sources for Energy Incentive Program, a national programme designed to promote the use of wind, biomass and micro-hydro. It was revised in November 2003. The first phase of 3 300 MW included 1 100 MW of wind power.

Although the main application of wind energy in Brazil is for installed capacity to be grid-connected, the end-2005 installed capacity totalled just 29 MW, of which the main installations were as follows:

However, by October 2006 operational capacity had risen to 158 MW.