Aneel authorizes the commercial operation of the first nationally-made wind turbine
Developed jointly by ENGIE Brasil Energia, WEG and CELESC and regulated under Aneel’s Research and Development Program (R&D), the first nationally manufactured wind generator began commercial operations on February 23. Installed in ENGIE Brasil Energia’s experimental R&D park in Tubarão (SC), the equipment, with a 4.2 MW capacity, was designed and produced by WEG at its plant in Jaraguá do Sul (SC).
Over the course of its design, the project consolidated into ENGIE Brasil’s largest R&D enterprise at an investment of more than R$ 80 million. The generator, hub and nacelle, which together weigh 201.3 tons, were produced by WEG at its headquarters in Jaraguá do Sul (SC), tested at the largest wind turbine test bed site in the Americas and equipped for use in future platforms of up to 6MW. The blades were manufactured by Aeris in Caucaia (CE) and shipped by boat and truck, the assembly of the wind turbine as a whole being concluded in June 2021.
In addition to feeding power into the National Grid, the conclusion of the ratification and commercial operation phase confirmed the operational viability of the equipment. This gives WEG the security to scale up the manufacture of wind turbines, launching them on the market.
Roberto Kinceler, the project’s manager at Celesc, points out that in future, energy generators around the world will be able to invest in the product. “Tests with wind turbines for the Brazilian market meet the challenges of the production chain such as material supply and costs for implementing wind generation projects nationally, being technologically complete products”, he explains. The partnership between the three companies is designed to encourage the technological development based on the local realities in the wind power area with a view to reducing the country’s technological dependence and stimulating innovation along the chain with high value added projects.
The initiative is in line with ENGIE’s strategy to be a benchmark in the transition to a low carbon economy in Brazil and in the production of energy from renewable sources. “To see a partner of the size of WEG providing the market with equipment of excellence with the support and the expertise of ENGIE is cause for great pride. All parties concerned win from the development of indigenous wind turbine technology, optimizing costs and the logistics of the future projects themselves for expanding wind generation capacity in the country’, comments Eduardo Sattamini, Chief Executive and Investor Relations Officer at ENGIE Brasil Energia.
Partnership between WEG and ENGIE Brasil Energia is a long-standing one
The companies are partners in other initiatives, in addition to the relationship for developing the electrical sector. WEG has been a client of ENGIE Brasil Energia in energy supply contracts since 2004, the existing agreement between the companies running for 5 years with 14 MWm allocated to the supply of WEG’s operations at its headquarters in Jaraguá do Sul (SC).
ENGIE Brasil Energia is also a client of WEG, which frequently supplies equipment and services for operating and maintaining the Company’s generation and transmission assets.
ABOUT ENGIE
ENGIE is a global reference in low-carbon energy and services. With its 97,000 employees, its customers, partners and stakeholders, the Group is committed to accelerate the transition towards a carbon-neutral world, through reduced energy consumption and more environmentally-friendly solutions. Inspired by its purpose (“raison d’être”), ENGIE reconciles economic performance with a positive impact on people and the planet, building on its key businesses (gas, renewable energy, services) to offer competitive solutions to its customers. Turnover in 2022: 82.6 billion Euros.
In Brazil, ENGIE, leader in 100% renewable power generation in the country, operates in generation, commercialization and transmission of electric power, gas transport and energy solutions. The Company
has in the country an installed capacity of 12,5 GW, originated from renewable sources and with low GHG emissions, such as hydro, solar and biomass power plants, and windfarms.
With the acquisition of Transportadora Associada de Gás – TAG, ENGIE now also owns the largest natural gas transportation network in the country, at 4,500 km and transecting 10 states and 191 cities.
The Group has a complete portfolio of integrated solutions focused on reducing costs and improving the infrastructure for companies and cities, such as energy efficiency, public lighting, energy monitoring and management.
With 2,800 employees, ENGIE’s turnover in Brazil in 2023 was of R$ 11.7 billion. ENGIE trades on the B3 through its energy generation and trading company, ENGIE Brasil Energia, under the ticker EGIE3. In addition to being a B3 Novo Mercado component, the Company is one of the very few companies that have been listed in the Business Sustainability Index since its creation in 2005. In 2021, ENGIE Brasil Energia was included in the Carbon-Efficient Index (ICO2), made up of IBrX 100 companies that are most transparent in terms of GHG emissions reporting and how they are preparing for a low-carbon economy.
The company also received in May 2024 the certification Great Place to Work, a recognition which validates the continuous commitment of the company to create a positive and inclusive work environment for all.
The Group is listed on the Paris and Brussels stock exchanges (ENGI) and is represented in the main financial indices (CAC 40, Euronext 100, FTSE Euro 100, MSCI Europe) and non-financial indices (DJSI World, Euronext Vigeo Eiris – Europe 120/France 20, MSCI EMU ESG screened, MSCI EUROPE ESG Universal Select, Stoxx Europe 600 ESG-X).