Sep 1, 2020

 The Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) approved a financing of R$ 37.5 million for Aeris, a Brazilian wind turbine blades manufacturer located in the municipality of Pecém (in the state of Ceará), which concentrates more than 50% of the total wind potential according to data from the Brazilian Wind Energy Association (ABEEólica). The funds will be allocated mainly to the acquisition of industrialized materials of national origin used in the production activity, so that the company can comply with contracts for the sale of blades to clients between 2020 and 2022. Due to these contracts, the company expects to close 2020 with 4,570 employees, compared with 3,627 in 2019. 

BNDES integrated action, the main promoter of wind energy in Brazil, has led to an important growth of this type of energy in the Brazilian energy matrix, says Marcos Rossi, Deputy Managing Director of the Industry, Services and Foreign Trade Division. “Within this action, the support to the national production chain, made up of manufacturers of various components, which has gained density, with some companies projecting themselves internationally, stands out.”

BNDES and renewable energies

In 2019, the Brazilian electric matrix, which comprises all types of energy, had an expansion of the generation capacity of 8,832 MW, among which 5,622 MW, 64% of the total, correspond to projects funded by BNDES. Last year, BNDES contracted 1,164 MW in wind projects, enough to meet the demand for 2.2 million households. In the past, BNDES has supported 109 wind complexes with 14.4 GW of energy generation capacity and with contracted financing amounts that total R$ 42.9 billion, for total investments of R$ 71.7 billion.

Brazil has a consolidated and qualified production chain to meet the demand for wind turbines, which represent between 64% and 84% of the total investment in wind energy plants. Large wind turbine manufacturers have factories in Northeast Brazil, and the machines produced are state-of-the-art models.

The wind sector in Brazil

According to the latest Annual Wind Generation Bulletin of ABEEólica, 38 new wind energy plants were installed in 2019, for a new capacity of 744.95 MW. The year 2019 ended with 620 plants in total, 15.45 GW of installed wind power and US$ 3.45 billion invested in new projects in the wind sector, representing 53% of the investments made in renewable sources in Brazil. According to the annual report of the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), in 2019 Brazil rose one position in the world ranking of accumulated wind capacity, now occupying the seventh position. In the ranking of new installed capacity that year, Brazil was in the twelfth position. The new wind capacity installed in 2019 made the source reach a 9.1% share of the Brazilian electric matrix. 

Aeris – Located in the Industrial and Port Complex of Pecém, Ceará, Aeris is a wind blades manufacturer created in 2010 and with 100% national capital. The strategic location, associated with a modern factory, along with processes integrated into a single industrial plant, reduces logistical costs for the main wind turbine manufacturers in the country. The company has a unit in the United States to provide maintenance and technical assistance services. 

About BNDES – Founded in 1952 and currently linked to the Ministry of Economy, BNDES is the main instrument of the Federal Government to promote long-term investments in the Brazilian economy. Its actions are focused on the socioenvironmental and economic impact in Brazil. The Bank offers special conditions for micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises, in addition to social investment lines, aimed at education and health, family farming, basic sanitation and urban transport. In crisis situations, the Bank acts in an anticyclical manner and assists in the formulation of solutions for the resumption of economic growth.

A survey released last year by Bloomberg points to BNDES as the largest financier of renewable energy in the world, with US$ 30 billion allocated to projects in the sector in Brazil between 2004 and 2018. 

Find out more at Blog do Desenvolvimento. 

Learn more about BNDES monitoring and evaluation of the impacts of wind projects in Brazilian municipalities by consulting the information.