Rio government wants to transform the state into an offshore wind energy hub

Potential for attracting investments is more than US$ 85 billion and nine ongoing projects could generate more than 300,000 jobs

The Government of Rio wants to transform the state into one of the main centers for offshore wind power generation in the country. Rio de Janeiro currently has nine offshore wind energy projects in the environmental licensing phase at IBAMA - equivalent to a quarter of all national investment in the sector - and the potential for attracting investment over the next few years is more than US$ 85 billion. The implementation of these projects may generate more than 300 thousand jobs, direct and indirect.

- This segment is considered fundamental, worldwide, for the sustainable diversification of the energy matrix. Due to its characteristics, the Rio de Janeiro coast offers competitive advantages for the development of the offshore wind energy pole, and also counts on an already consolidated service chain. Our government has been trying to understand the sector's demands in order to find solutions that speed up the implementation of the projects and, thus, also enable the generation of thousands of jobs and more income for our population - said the governor Cláudio Castro.

In this sense, the Secretary of Economic Development, Energy and International Relations, Cássio Coelho, met with Neoenergia on Monday (13/06). He points out that the execution of offshore wind energy projects will bring a number of benefits to the state, starting with qualified jobs.

- These projects will increase the state's energy security, an important competitive factor for attracting new investments, and tax collection. They may also represent the creation of new demands for the Rio de Janeiro naval industry, such as contracts for energy cable launching ships, crane ships to launch the towers, ships to transport the towers, blades and complements, and to maintain the plants. It will also make it possible to attract blade and complement manufacturers - explains the secretary.

The Secretariat of Economic Development is preparing maps of the potential for clean energy generation in the state and will promote, on July 22, a seminar on renewable energy.