“The pilot plant project in Rio Grande do Norte is now a concrete reality,” said Rodrigo Mello, director at SENAI Institute for Innovation in Renewable Energies (ISI-ER) and its branch SENAI-RN, as the institute invited partners and investors to join Brazil’s first offshore wind project.
SENAI ISI-ER, SENAI-RN, and Dois A Engenharia e Tecnologia presented the multi-client notice at the Brazil Windpower event in São Paulo on 29 October.
This pilot is Brazil’s first offshore wind energy project to receive a preliminary license from the Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA).
In June, after receiving the license, SENAI-RN announced plans to begin fundraising and setup for the first project stage, which includes developing engineering designs, a timeline, and budget.
The pilot offshore wind farm will serve as a test site for future wind turbines in real operating conditions in the Brazilian sea.
The IBAMA-licensed project plans for the installation of two wind turbines with a combined capacity of 24.5 MW, located 4.5 kilometers offshore from the Port-Island of Areia Branca.
The installation system is based on a model by Spanish company Esteyco, licensed in Brazil by Dois A Engenharia, allowing full assembly of towers on land before transporting them offshore with tugboats.
SENAI anticipates operation to start within 36 months after signing contracts with partner companies.
During the public notice on 29 October, Rodrigo Mello referred to this as “day zero,” allowing companies time to analyze participation conditions and express interest in the project.
The pilot plant will follow the Joint Industry Project (JIP) model, involving SENAI-RN, ISI-ER, Dois A Engenharia, and investing companies in developing, nationalizing, and validating solutions.
“We aim to attract partners to develop national technology and logistics solutions for installing wind turbines in Brazil’s Equatorial Margin,” said Rodrigo Mello.
Approximately BRL 42 million (around EUR 6.7 million) will be invested in the first project stage, involving engineering and production condition analysis, sharing financial, technological, and knowledge risks among participants.
The first phase will last 16 to 18 months from contract signing, with partner contracts expected in December, and project commencement in April 2026.
The second phase, also around 18 months, will include “final engineering,” with construction, assembly, and validation activities.
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