Brazilian wind farm to supply 1.37 million homes in Bahia state
A wind farm complex is currently under construction in the north-central region of Bahia state. The project is expected to commence operations in October 2025, providing enough energy to power approximately 1.37 million homes.
The so-called Babilônia Centro project has received financing of BRL 3.16 billion from the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES). This credit was granted to Ventos de Santo Antônio Comercializadora de Energia S.A., the company overseeing the endeavor.
Located in the municipalities of Morro do Chapéu and Várzea Nova, Babilônia Centro will feature 123 wind turbines, with an installed capacity of 553.5 megawatts (MW) and estimated energy generation of 267 average MW.
A medium-voltage network will transport the energy generated to the collection substation of the Babilônia Centro complex. From there, it will be integrated into the National Interconnected System (SIN).
Commitment
The operation reinforces BNDES' commitment to large-scale renewable energy projects, aiming to bolster Brazil's sustainable energy matrix with clean energy production and efforts toward decarbonization, as stated by the institution's head, Aloizio Mercadante.
By generating electricity from a clean source, the complex will prevent the annual emission of approximately 950,000 tons of CO² (carbon dioxide) into the atmosphere.
Throughout the project's implementation, it is anticipated that 1,500 direct jobs and 3,000 indirect jobs will be generated. Upon completion, the wind farm complex will directly employ 80 individuals and indirectly support an additional 150 jobs.
Advantage
The director of Infrastructure, Energy Transition, and Climate Change at BNDES, Luciana Costa, points out that Brazil is in an advantageous position in relation to the rest of the world regarding energy transition.
Costa points out that countries such as India and the United States are promoting the establishment of wind and solar farms through subsidies, a practice Brazil has been engaged in for the past 20 years.
"In 2004, BNDES established a support program for alternative electricity sources to fund wind and solar energy projects. As a result, BNDES-financed projects now represent 57.5 percent of Brazil's total installed wind power capacity, which amounts to 28.7 GW," she explained.
The director cited data from the International Energy Agency (IEA), which indicated that last year, the global expansion of renewable energy sources was 50 percent higher than in 2022, with Brazil being one of the most significant contributors.
