WIND IN LATIN AMERICA

Brazil leads Latin America wind energy markets: study
May 5, 2010 (International Business Times)

"Brazil is leading Latin America's wind energy market with 31.6 gigawatts of capacity expected to be installed by 2025…69 percent of the total [predicted] installed capacity in 2025 in Latin America…Mexico and Chile [are predicted to second and third]…

"According to [an IHS Emerging Energy Research] study, total investment in Latin America wind turbine markets will scale from just under $1 billion in 2009 to more than $2.2 billion by 2015."

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"Better government incentives are encouraging Brazilian developers such as Dobreve Energia, Renova Energia, and CPFL to lead the market…German group Wobben Windpower has been a key longtime wind turbine manufacturer in Brazil. But recently other companies have entered the market such as Argentina's IMPSA, Suzlon and Vestas, according to the Global Wind Energy Council…Major developers and operators of the wind energy market in [Brazil] include Enerfin/Elecnor, Iberdrola, IMPSA/Energimp, Martifer and Pacific Hydro…

"The study notes that demand and local content requirements are encouraging operation equipment manufacturers to invest primarily in Brazil-based manufacturing of turbines 1.5 MW and larger. But bigger opportunities are being opened to develop the country's wind turbine component supply chain."

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"Brazil - which generates 74 percent of its electricity from renewable sources, mainly from hydroelectric power plants - saw an increase of 264 MW in 2009 bringing the total installed wind capacity up to 606 MW. By mid-March 2010 the figure reached 709 MW…Brazil has a considerably high onshore wind energy capacity of probably more than 350 GW…"

[Vincent Gautier, analyst, IHS Emerging Energy Research:] “Brazil’s market scale and proactive renewable energy policies are moving Latin America toward a key tipping point, from sporadic project activations to more steady wind power market growth…”