After announcing long-term agreements with the multinational technology company Tivit, the footwear manufacturer Vulcabras Azaleia, and, more recently, with the mining company Anglo American, Casa dos Ventos, one of the pioneers and largest investors in the development of wind projects in Brazil, celebrates a partnership with the Moura Group, the largest battery manufacturer in South America. The agreement aims to transform Moura's energy matrix into 100% renewable, meeting the organization's total electricity consumption from 2022 onwards with wind energy, through the Rio do Vento complex (504 MW), in Rio Grande do Norte.
With the new partnership, Casa dos Ventos reaffirms its strategy of offering energy directly to large and medium-sized companies and reinforces its commitment to democratize access to wind power. Like the other contracts, the wind project developer offers the partner the opportunity to become a shareholder in the plant and, consequently, a self-producer of clean energy – a category that the Moura Group now joins, participating as an energy consumer and shareholder of the venture through a long-term agreement. "We developed a customized model that meets different needs, from electro-intensive companies, such as Vale, to companies with lower consumption, such as Tivit, Vulcabras Azaleia, and now the Moura Group," explained Lucas Araripe, New Business Director at Casa dos Ventos.
The Rio do Vento complex is located in one of Brazil's best wind regions and will become one of the largest wind power ventures in the country. "The unique condition of the wind resource, combined with the economies of scale of the project, allows us to offer contracts at very competitive rates," added Araripe.
With the use of clean energy, the Pernambuco-based company will avoid the emission of 60,000 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere, equivalent to the carbon captured by planting 360,000 trees. "We have observed a strong trend of companies seeking measures to decarbonize their activities. Wind power not only fulfills this goal but also brings economic benefits, given that it is the lowest-cost source of generation in Brazil," said Araripe.
"At Moura Group, one of the pillars of our organizational culture is the adoption of sustainable principles and respect for the Environment in a transversal way. All the company's environmental policies, which range from the correct disposal of solid waste to water reuse and energy efficiency, are guided by the best global practices. With the partnership with Casa dos Ventos in this venture, our products will be manufactured and shipped using stored renewable energy, which will be an important step in the pursuit of reducing carbon emissions in our operations. We seek the sustainable development of the company with responsibility and the pride of being a benchmark in Brazil," states Arnolfo Menezes, Director of Metals and Sustainability at Moura Group.
Rio do Vento has 120 V150-4.2 MW turbines from the Danish company Vestas, a world leader in wind turbine manufacturing, and is located in the municipalities of Caiçara do Rio do Vento, Riachuelo, Ruy Barbosa, and Bento Fernandes. Commercial operation is scheduled for the second half of 2021.
Doubled capacity
Casa dos Ventos is eyeing the duplication of the wind complex and has already started negotiations for the expansion of Rio do Vento. With Rio do Vento II, the venture will have its installed capacity doubled, totaling more than 1 GW and becoming one of the largest wind complexes in the world.
In addition to its duplication, the company is studying the hybridization of the project, combining two clean and renewable sources: wind and sun. "For the second phase, we will take advantage of the connection infrastructure of the first and optimize the operation of the plants. Rio do Vento will be one of the energy assets with the lowest generation cost in the world. A unique opportunity for companies to reduce their carbon footprint and achieve savings in energy consumption," concluded Araripe.
In addition to Rio do Vento and its expansion, the company is developing a third project of 350 MW in Bahia, also targeting long-term corporate contracts.
About Casa dos Ventos
Casa dos Ventos is one of the pioneers and largest investors in the development of wind projects in Brazil. With over ten years in the market, it is responsible for developing the largest number of projects that have commercialized energy in regulated auctions and in the free contracting environment in the country. In addition to having developed approximately 30% of all projects under implementation or operation in the country, the company holds the largest portfolio of wind projects in Brazil. The company's wind projects are located in Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Pernambuco, Paraíba, Bahia, and Piauí.
