# Advances, Progress, and Future Directions of Renewable Wind Energy in Brazil (2000-2025-2050)
## 2 Potential of Wind Energy Resources in Brazil
### Offshore Wind Energy Potential  
In addition to its vast onshore wind potential, Brazil has a vast offshore wind resource that represents a significant opportunity for expanding its energy mix. Brazil's offshore wind potential is primarily concentrated along its extensive coastline, which stretches for more than 7000 km, with favorable conditions in the northeast and southeast regions. These areas are characterized by constant, high-speed winds, making them ideal for installing offshore wind turbines [27]. In the marine environment, wind speeds tend to be higher and more constant than in onshore areas, due to the lesser roughness of the water surface and the absence of obstacles such as mountains, buildings, or vegetation. Along the Brazilian coast, especially in the northeast, average wind speeds at a height of 100 m can exceed 9 m/s, which is considerably higher than in many land-based regions. At higher altitudes, such as 150 m, these speeds can reach or even exceed 10 m/s, significantly increasing the potential for energy generation [27]. Wind behavior at sea follows a vertical profile similar to that observed on land, where wind speed increases with height. However, this increase is more pronounced in the marine environment due to lower friction. For example, while on land wind speed can increase by 10-15% when rising from 80 to 120 m in height, at sea this increase can be 20% or more. This allows offshore wind turbines, which are typically taller than onshore ones, to take advantage of stronger and more consistent winds [27]. The capacity factor of offshore wind farms in Brazil will have the potential to be extremely high, possibly exceeding 60% in the best locations. This is due to the combination of strong, constant winds and less variability in wind direction compared to onshore areas. At sea, winds are typically more unidirectional, reducing the need for frequent adjustments to wind turbine orientation and improving operational efficiency [27]. Off the northeast coast of Brazil, the trade winds, blowing off the Atlantic Ocean, are particularly consistent and strong. These winds have a predominant direction and maintain high speeds for most of the year, ensuring stable and predictable energy production. This consistency is crucial for maximizing the performance of offshore wind turbines and reducing operation and maintenance costs [27]. Figure 7 shows a map of the offshore wind resource potential in Brazil, highlighting the coastal regions with the greatest potential: the Northeast, Southeast, and South [28]. Figure 7 shows that installing offshore wind turbines in Brazil requires advanced technology, such as large turbines and floating or fixed platforms, depending on the water depth. In coastal areas of Brazil, where the continental shelf is relatively narrow, fixed-base wind turbines are possible. However, in areas with greater depths, such as some parts of the southern coast, floating platforms would be the most viable option [28]. There are various foundation systems for wind turbines to be implemented offshore. For shallow waters \(<\) 50 m, the following are available: (i) jacket system and (ii) monopile system. For deep waters \(>\) 50 m, the following systems are available: (i) tension leg platform, (ii) barge, (iii) semi-sub, and (iv) spar [27] (Figure 8). Figure 8: Offshore wind turbines for depths \(<50\) m are considered fixed base installations (**right**), while for depths \(>50\) m, they are considered floating installations (**left**). Figure 7: Offshore wind technical energy potential in Brazil. Overall, Brazil's offshore wind resource potential is estimated at 480 GW for fixed-foundation wind turbine systems and 748 GW for floating wind turbine systems, resulting in a total offshore wind potential equivalent to 1288 GW [28].