Brazil Windpower 2010: Timely event in a booming market

Rio de Janeiro, 3 September 2010. Just days after the Brazilian government contracted more than 2,000 MW of wind power, GWEC, ABEEolica and Brazilian media group CanalEnergia hosted Brazil Windpower 2010, the region’s first industry-led conference and exhibition, attracting a large number of speakers, delegates, sponsors and exhibitors from 30 August – 2 September. The first large wind power event in Brazil could not have been timed better.

“If you had held this event three years ago, you could probably have fitted it into a van,” joked Brazilian energy minister Marcio Zimmerman during the conference opening session, which was attended by 750 delegates. “But now, you need a large conference center. This reflects the tremendous growth of wind energy in Brazil, and the historical success of the auctions. Wind power is now a firm component of the Brazilian energy mix, and it is here to stay!”

During the three Brazilian wind and renewable energy auctions in December 2009 and August 2010, a total of more than 3,850 MW have been contracted, spread across 141 projects. Despite the price achieved by the winning bids, the volume of the contracted capacity coupled with government efforts to create a favourable environment for wind power raise expectations for strong market development. International players are eager to position themselves in this promising market. “The Brazilian market is now becoming very attractive for the big global players, and they all want to get in on the ground floor,” said Steve Sawyer, GWEC’s Secretary General. “All the ingredients are here for Brazil to grow to a large market very quickly. This event provides the ideal platform for all the interested players to network and discover the opportunities in Brazilian wind energy.” The Brazil Windpower 2010 event was attended by 1,836 industry participants from 27 countries, and sponsored by 21 companies, including Eletrobras, Vestas and Wobben Enercon. The event’s exhibition was composed of 55 exhibitors, who presented their products and services on a surface of 1,800 sqm. “We are very pleased with the great interest this event has received in this relatively young market,” said Pedro Perelli, Secretary General of the Brazilian Wind Energy Association (ABEEolica). “The timing was good, and the Brazilian wind market is booming. We are confident that the event will be even more successful next year,” he said, launching Brazil Windpower 2010. The Brazil Windpower 2010 conference & exhibition will take place during the first week of September 2011.

Contacts:
ABEEolica: Pedro Perrelli,
+55 11 8926 2262, pedro@abeeolica.org.br

GWEC: Angelika Pullen,
+32 473 947 966, angelika.pullen@gwec.net