Avaliação do potencial de geração de energia eólica offshore no litoral do Nordeste brasileiro

Abstract

The generation of energy through cleaner technologies has become a topic of significant relevance today, as the way this energy is produced and utilized has a direct impact on the quality of life in society. Wind energy has been prominent in this context, gaining more space with the implementation of large wind farms worldwide. In 2023, global installed capacity increased by 117 GW, surpassing the 1 TW mark for the first time. Brazil stands out globally for its energy matrix with a significant share of renewable resources, especially wind energy, which represented 11.8% of the matrix in 2023. The country has 1049 operational wind projects and 93 more in development or planning stages. Although there is significant focus on offshore wind potential studies for electricity generation in Brazil, there is a scarcity of studies comparing in situ monitoring data in offshore regions with numerical modeling to determine the generation potential in the Northeast Region, despite it being the region with the highest installed wind capacity in the country. This thesis aims to evaluate and quantify the potential for offshore wind power generation on the Brazilian Northeast coast, employing numerical modeling techniques and computational simulation with the Weather Research and Forecast (WRF) Model. The study focused on studying the coastal margin area of the Brazilian Northeast coast up to a distance of approximately 24 nautical miles on the continental shelf, with an average depth of up to 50 meters. WRF data was compared with in situ measurements collected on ocean buoys and Automatic Weather Stations (EMA), as well as with atmospheric reanalysis data, aiming to statistically validate wind speed values for use in this study, where data consistency was observed. The research results highlighted distinct variations in wind intensity throughout the day for the Recife buoy and EMA in João Pessoa and Ilhéus, with different diurnal patterns. The monthly analysis emphasized average wind speeds always above 4 m/s, especially north of latitude 7°5'S, with higher speeds between July and December, highlighting the winter and spring periods. The states of Rio Grande do Norte and Piauí are identified as more conducive to offshore wind power generation. The results indicate a significant potential for offshore wind energy generation, with estimated generation capacities of 308 GW at 100 meters and 918.43 GW at 150 meters, resulting in an Annual Total Energy Production (PATE) of 1,214.14 TWh/year and 3,586.77 TWh/year, respectively, highlighting the enormous wind generation potential in the offshore region of Northeastern Brazil.