Brazil approves 3.9GW of wind for next auction

BRAZIL: Brazilian regulator Empresa de Pesquisa Energetica (EPE) has approved 3.9GW of wind projects for an upcoming 4.2GW alternative sources auction.

Over 1.6GW of wind was added in 2015

Over 3.9GW of wind, across 172 projects, could be added in the AF auction. It takes place on 27 April.

The auction is designed to increase the mix of energy sources in Brazil. EPE president Mauricio Tolmasquim said: "This set of autions will ensure system security of supply and diversification of the energy matrix in Brazil." The remaining 300MW of capacity is provided by biomass projects.

Wind has recently dominated Brazil's energy auctions. A combined total of 106 projects in this auction are located in the Bahia and Rio Grande do Norte states, on the country's east coast.

Brazil's wind power industry is set to grow by two thirds to almost 10GW in 2015. Over 1.6GW of wind was added to the grid in 2015.

However, no wind farms are participating in Brazil's upcoming A5 tender, which is dominated by thermoelectric plants. Wind developers are holding out for the A3 tender (which requires completion in three years) in July.