Current and future overview of wind power in state of Rio Grande do Norte

Abstract

In 2024 and in recent decades, there has been a constant concern for the environment, and environmental issues are discussed at a global level. In these debates, it has been understood that economic growth cannot be treated as a closed system, that is, as something unrelated to the environment. As a result, several agreements have been made to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In Brazil, wind power has contributed to achieving a balance between economic growth and sustainability, and the state of Rio Grande do Norte is one of the leading states in wind power generation in the country. Therefore, the objective of this article is to analyze the evolution of installed capacity of wind power in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, seeking to understand the key factors that have contributed to making that state a leading player in Brazil’s wind sector. The analysis has shown that in addition to favorable climatic conditions, with an abundance of strong and constant winds, the availability of suitable land and a pre-existing transmission infrastructure, the expansion of wind power has been driven by public policies, such as energy auctions, for example.