BRAZIL WIND BLOWING UP

Brazil wind energy sector taking off
Stuart Grudgings, May 19, 2009 (Reuters)

"Brazil's wind energy sector is expected to take off this year, boosted by the government's first auction for projects in the renewable energy source on November 25…[S]ome of the main investments, current and planned [are]…

"…Enerfin, a unit of Spain's Elecnor, operates the biggest wind park in Brazil, the 150 MW Osorio complex in Rio Grande do Sul state, through Brazilian firm Ventos do Sul. It plans to double that capacity.

"…Spain's Iberdrola operates the 50 MW Rio do Fogo wind farm in Rio Grande do Norte state, and is expected to participate in the November auction."

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"…SIIF Energies do Brasil, owned by Citigroup, Liberty Mutual and Black River is investing around 1.7 billion reais ($840 million) to build five wind parks in Brazil, four in Ceara state and one in Rio de Janeiro. They will have a total generating capacity of 342 MW. The company is developing 16 new projects in Brazil to participate in the 2009 auction.

"…Ventania, owned by Portugal's Martifer and Brazil's Energia Global, has a wind farm in Ceara state and plans to offer another 10 projects with a capacity of 350 MW at the auction."

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"…Brazilian renewable power company Bioenergy aims to invest 2.12 billion reais ($1.04 billion) to build four wind farms in the country's northeast with a total capacity of 530 MW.

"…France's GDF Suez and Australia's Pacific Hydro also have wind power projects in Brazil.

"…Among turbine manufacturers, Wobben Windpower, a unit of Germany's Enercon, currently dominates…India's Suzlon Energy, Argentina's IMPSA, and Danish firm Vestas Wind are seeking to raise their share."