Nordex wants to define the location of its concrete wind tower factory in RS in 2025

(DJC) After signing a memorandum of understanding with the state government in April to build a concrete wind tower factory in Rio Grande do Sul, the European company Nordex expects to confirm the location of the unit next year. The company’s sales manager, Robertison Brito, says that the schedule is open, but reinforces that the work is focused on defining the issue in 2025. The “final decision”, explains the executive, will happen when the company closes the contract to supply equipment for a wind farm in Rio Grande do Sul. “We understand that 2025 will be a very interesting year for the wind market in Rio Grande do Sul, because the Northeast is suffering with the margin (of energy flow) and we have good projects here (in the South)”, Brito points out.

After closing a deal to meet the demand for wind equipment, the choice of the city that will host the tower factory will depend on logistical factors (proximity to the park that will receive the equipment), tax factors and an area suitable for the implementation of the necessary infrastructure. The regions currently being evaluated to receive this investment are the surrounding areas of Uruguaiana, Bagé, Osório and Santa Vitória Palmar. The investment in the complex is projected to be between R$30 million and R$50 million. Once the contract for supplying the towers is signed, the expectation is that production of the structures will begin in 18 months. In addition to the towers, Nordex also supplies the plants with components such as wind blades, the rotor, the nacelles (cabin that houses parts of the wind turbine) and the drivetrain (which converts kinetic energy into electrical energy). This equipment may be brought in from outside the state by the company.

Brito participated yesterday in the “Wind Energy Industry Investors Meeting in RS”. The event was promoted by the Union of the Renewable Energy Industry of Rio Grande do Sul (Sindienergia-RS), the Federation of Industries of the State of Rio Grande do Sul (Fiergs) and the state government, at the Fiergs headquarters in Porto Alegre. The president of Sindienergia-RS, Daniela Cardeal, comments that the initiative served to show the investment opportunities in the state. One of the positive points of Rio Grande do Sul for receiving new wind farms, says the director, is having the availability of connection to the national interconnected system to transport the energy generated. During the event, a protocol of intentions was also signed between the state government, Porto RS and the union regarding a pilot project for sustainable energy transition. “We are suggesting sustainable actions for the ports, starting with Rio Grande”, explains Daniela. The idea, among other measures, is to take wind measurements and conduct environmental studies to observe the possibility of installing wind farms on land or in water in the region.

The president of Portos RS, Cristiano Klinger, adds that the port wants to develop more sustainable activities. “In addition to preparing to be a platform for exporting green energy (which can occur with green hydrogen), we want to have an operation based on this concept,” says Klinger. Also present at Fiergs, Governor Eduardo Leite mentioned Bill (PL) 576/2021, known as the regulatory framework for offshore electric energy exploration, which was approved by the Senate.  “Although there is criticism of the points that were raised, the famous ‘riders’, in the text, what interests us is that the regulation of the use of space for renewable energy evolves,” emphasizes the governor.

He points out that Rio Grande do Sul is the state with the largest number of projects with environmental licensing for offshore wind generation underway at Ibama. In total, there are 27 projects in Rio Grande do Sul that are under analysis by the environmental agency and that have an installed capacity of 69,629 MW, which represents more than 17 times the average energy demand of the state. Each MW installed in offshore wind farms is estimated to require an investment of around R$15 million. Leite adds that new investments in renewable energy are a global necessity and that climate catastrophes, such as the one recently faced by Rio Grande do Sul, increase the relevance of the energy transition. For the president of Fiergs, Claudio Bier, renewable energy, in addition to being an action linked to sustainability, serves as support for the reconstruction of the local economy.