Before Adriana's work, which was supervised by professor Luiz Antonio Rossi, from the Faculty of Agricultural Engineering (Feagri), there was no information available about São Paulo's wind potential, other than that estimated by the National Wind Atlas, with a methodology different from that used by she. The author of the dissertation states that she encountered a series of difficulties in collecting the data necessary for the study. First, meteorological stations, as the name suggests, were designed to provide climatological indicators and not specifically wind behavior, with a focus on generating electrical energy. Therefore, several of its instruments are not the most suitable for carrying out the type of measurement that was of interest to the research. The specific devices that capture the intensity and frequency of the wind, for example, operate at a height of ten meters.
“The recommended height to carry out this type of measurement varies from 25 to 50 meters, the latter being the best”, explains Professor Rossi. Using a mathematical equation and specific software, which allow precise results, Adriana extrapolated the data collected by the meteorological stations to 50 meters and extended coverage to the entire State. Thus, it obtained the general wind potential of São Paulo. At the same time, as already mentioned, the author of the work analyzed the roughness of the soil and the differences in relief, variables that decisively affect the behavior of the wind. With this, she developed a methodology that can be applied to any State, in order to promote the assessment of its wind potential.
During the investigation, Adriana says she came across another serious problem. As they were not designed to consider wind energy as a potential electricity generator, several meteorological stations are located in unfavorable locations. One of them, for example, was installed on the side of a hill. In other words, the geographical feature acts as an obstacle to the wind, consequently preventing its measurement in all directions. Additionally, the researcher and Professor Rossi complain, many institutions that hold data on the subject have made access to this information difficult, due to bureaucratic procedures.
After completing the survey, Adriana tried to stratify the meteorological stations, according to their wind potential. He divided the units into three segments: small (22), medium (5) and large (1). The only one falling into the third category was the station on Ilha da Moela, a Navy concession located two kilometers from the city of Santos. According to Professor Rossi, wind potential should not be analyzed solely from the point of view of electricity generation, although this is the noblest contribution of this type of source. “The wind also generates mechanical power, which can be used for pumping water, irrigation and charging batteries”, he highlights. In other words, even places with small wind potential can contribute to reducing electricity consumption or generate enough electricity to light a house or shed in rural areas.
Stay competitive – The use of wind energy to generate electrical energy is practically insignificant in Brazil, if both the estimated potential and the potential already inventoried and granted are taken as a reference, according to Professor Rossi, from Feagri. It is equivalent, at a national level, to less than 0,1% of energy generation and 0,03% of the installed power in the energy matrix, a negligible percentage compared to that of Germany, a country in which 15% of the energy matrix of 12.000MW come from wind farms. One of the main reasons for this source to be disregarded, in the expert's opinion, is the lack of government policies that consider it strategic for the nation's growth efforts. As a consequence of the lack of support, wind energy still remains uncompetitive compared to hydraulic energy.
While 1MWh of electrical energy generated by wind costs US$62, the same energy produced by a hydroelectric plant costs practically half as much, US$36. “For now, wind energy, in favorable locations, only competes with hydraulic energy in relation to installation cost. For each MW installed, the first requires average expenditure of around US$ 1,3 and the second, US$ 1,2”, assures Professor Rossi. He points out, however, that using wind for this purpose causes much less impact on the environment. “This only happens during the installation phase of the wind farm, when the equipment is transported by motor vehicles. Then, in the operation stage, the impact is practically zero”, maintains the Feagri professor.
Rossi states that the time to take advantage of São Paulo's wind potential, as well as that of other states, is now. He defends the carrying out of state strategic planning in the energy area that strongly considers renewable sources of electricity generation. “I think that the State of São Paulo resents a department that talks to institutions that work or carry out research in this area. We lack managers to promote the consortium between these actors, in order to install a dedicated network for the generation of clean energy”, proposes the Feagri professor.
Currently developing her doctoral thesis, Adriana Miguel investigates Brazil's potential for collecting carbon credits, from the use of renewable sources, especially wind energy. Through the Kyoto Protocol, signed in 1997, industrialized countries committed to investing in projects carried out by developing or underdeveloped nations that promote the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Some estimates suggest that each ton of carbon that is not released into the atmosphere could return resources ranging from US$10 to US$100 to Brazilian coffers.
electrical energy, which would serve as a complement to its energy matrix. The conclusion is from an original study developed for Adriana Rocha Ferreira Miguel's master's thesis, recently defended at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (FEM) at Unicamp. The researcher collected, systematized and interpreted data on frequency, intensity and direction of winds, provided by 28 meteorological stations. In addition, she also analyzed the roughness of the soil and the relief of the State. “Although the available information is not very reliable, as it is underestimated, it was possible to verify that the generation of electricity from wind energy could prove to be a technically and economically viable alternative to help meet regional demand”, she states.
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