Wind Power

Also denominated as wind power, eolic energy can be explained in physical terms as kinetic energy generated by the movement of air masses caused by the differences in temperatures existing on the surface of the planet. Harnessing is undertaken through the conversion of translation kinetic energy into rotation kinetic energy. In order to produce electric energy, eolic turbines are used – also known as wind turbines.

The following graph shows the global market trend in wind power:

Installed world wind power capacity increased 1,155% between 1997 and 2007 from 7.5 thousand to 94 thousand MW. This rapid expansion is due partially to the continuous development of new technologies allowing the production of larger wind turbines. It is estimated that gross wind power potential is of the order of 500,000 TWh/year of which it is believed that technically at least 10% can be harnessed. This corresponds to about four times current world consumption of electricity.
The Electric Energy Atlas of Brazil states that the winds in Brazil are twice as strong as the world average and have a 5% volatility (oscillation of volatility), which gives a greater degree of predictability to the energy output. In addition, as the volume is usually greater in periods of drought, it is particularly advantageous to operate wind power plants complementary to hydro power plants, thus conserving reservoir water levels during periods of low rainfall.

From 2003 to 2008, installed wind farm capacity in Brazil rose 12 times from 22MW to 273MW – an annual average growth of 65%. In 2007 alone the domestic supply of wind generated electricity increased from 236 GWh to 559 GWh, a variation of 136.9%, according to National Energy Balance data, published by the Energy Research Company (EPE). Even so, current Brazilian installed capacity is of the order of 712 MW, representing only 0.50% of estimated domestic potential of 143,000 MW.