Brazil : Federal Government authorizes 10 wind farms in Bahia

The Federal Government authorized the installation and operation of 10 wind farms under the Independent Electricity Production (PIE) regime in the state of Bahia, totaling 53 MW of installed capacity. The ordinances were published by the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) in last Thursday's edition (01/06) of the Federal Official Gazette.

There are three plants in the municipality of Antnio Gonalves (Ventos de Santo Antnio 07, Ventos de Santo Antnio 06 and Ventos de Santo Antnio 08), which add up to 15.9 MW of installed capacity.

In the municipality of Boninal, seven wind farms were authorized (Ventos de Santa Luzia 16, Ventos de Santa Luzia 17, Ventos de Santa Luzia 13, Ventos de Santa Luzia 11, Ventos de Santa Luzia 12, Ventos de Santa Luzia 15 and Ventos de Santa Luzia 14), totaling 37.1 MW. The projects are expected to start operating in early 2024 and 2025.

Independent Producers

Independent Energy Producers (PIE) are companies or a consortium of companies that receive a concession or authorization to produce and commercialize electricity generation, at their own risk, for the National Interconnected System (SIN). To be a PIE it is necessary to have a hydraulic potential of power greater than 1,000 kW. For the implementation of a thermoelectric plant, the power must be greater than 5,000 kW.

According to the Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME), this type of production allows the entry of new investors with autonomy to carry out contracts for the purchase and sale of energy, in a competitive manner and with flexibility to meet consumer requirements.

This type of energy production was authorized by Law No. 9,074 of 1995, as a way of reducing government investment in the energy production sector.