By Celso Chagas and Esther Obriem

(BrasilEnergia) The second edition of South America Offshore Wind 2024 began on Tuesday afternoon, September 17, in Rio de Janeiro, and will run until September 19, to discuss the development of the offshore wind sector in South America.

Opening the first panel of the conference, Alex Gasparetto, Petrobras’ Offshore Wind Business Development Manager, highlighted that knowledge of the Brazilian coast is a competitive advantage for the company, in a segment that awaits government regulation. According to him, one of the ideas is to use demand itself to advance projects and use the synergy of the company’s operations to reduce production costs in offshore wind. “We have an integrated view of our assets and we believe that this will help maximize the value of the country’s natural resources,” he added.

The executive stated that Petrobras has 12 wind measurement sites and is starting a 3-year measurement campaign, evaluating new points along the entire Brazilian coast. “Offshore wind power will only become a reality with the cooperation of the agents involved and with regulatory approval,” he highlighted. “Right now, we are studying areas and we see that the first project will be operational, perhaps in 2035, but this will depend on demand, of course. If it doesn’t exist, we won’t have a project. Entering the market is the big challenge here,” he said.

Gasparetto noted that the forecast depends on the approval of the regulatory framework. “It’s a date that’s on our minds, but there are a number of issues that need to be addressed, and the issue of the route to market is important and needs to be clear. It’s a premise that’s on people’s minds, if the bill is approved and has work and incentives from Ibama,” he added to Brasil Energia.

Finally, the executive emphasized that it’s necessary to explore Brazil’s potential in offshore wind generation, but not only that. “We also have to think about how we can improve this infrastructure, we have to consider that our economy has to grow, and use the competitive advantage of renewables to attract new industries.”

Read original article: https://brasilenergia.com.br/energia/eolica/petrobras-pode-ter-primeiro-projeto-eolico-offshore-em-2035