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Wind Power on the Brazilian Northeast Coast, from the Whiff of Hope to Turbulent Convergence: The Case of the Galinhos Wind Farms

Author

Listed:
  • Eduardo Janser de Azevedo Dantas

    (Federal Institute of Education, Science, and Technology of Rio Grande do Norte (IFRN), Natal 59015-000, Brazil
    Energy Planning Program (PPE), Coordination of Post-Graduation Programs in Engineering of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (COPPE/UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-914, Brazil
    Society for Urban Ecology, 5020 Salzburg, Austria)

  • Luiz Pinguelli Rosa

    (Energy Planning Program (PPE), Coordination of Post-Graduation Programs in Engineering of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (COPPE/UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-914, Brazil
    International Virtual Institute of Global Change (IVIG), Rio de Janeiro 21941-909, Brazil)

  • Neilton Fidelis da Silva

    (Federal Institute of Education, Science, and Technology of Rio Grande do Norte (IFRN), Natal 59015-000, Brazil
    Energy Planning Program (PPE), Coordination of Post-Graduation Programs in Engineering of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (COPPE/UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-914, Brazil
    International Virtual Institute of Global Change (IVIG), Rio de Janeiro 21941-909, Brazil)

  • Marcio Giannini Pereira

    (International Virtual Institute of Global Change (IVIG), Rio de Janeiro 21941-909, Brazil
    Electrical Power Research Center (CEPEL), Rio de Janeiro 21944-970, Brazil)

Abstract

The convergent narrative which proposes an energy transition, aiming to replace fossil fuels with renewable energies, has in wind power technology a viable option that can consolidate this view. Brazil produced 14.8 GW of wind powered energy in 2019, 85.7% of this total in the Northeastern region. Social and environmental fragilities of local communities, overlooked an exclusionary planning, have led to opposition movements against wind farm implementation. This study aims to assess how the arrival of wind power dialogues with the demands of the communities living in the projects’ vicinities, as well as repercussions on institutional, socio-economic and environmental developments. A case study was conducted with regard to the Galinhos’ community reaction to the arrival of wind power. First, public domain narratives were evaluated, in order to ascertain the different perceptions from the social actors involved in the process. Next, the community’s vision was assessed regarding expectations and fears, created by the existence of the wind farm, before and after its implementation. The perception was that the wind farm did not change the population’s socioeconomic conditions and environmental issues require appraisals by the accountable bodies. In this scenario, the materiality of the narrative that justifies wind farm expansion in the Brazilian northeast was assessed.

Suggested Citation

  • Eduardo Janser de Azevedo Dantas & Luiz Pinguelli Rosa & Neilton Fidelis da Silva & Marcio Giannini Pereira, 2019. "Wind Power on the Brazilian Northeast Coast, from the Whiff of Hope to Turbulent Convergence: The Case of the Galinhos Wind Farms," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(14), pages 1-24, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:14:p:3802-:d:247467
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Fábio Ricardo Procópio de Araújo & Marcio Giannini Pereira & Marcos Aurélio Vasconcelos Freitas & Neilton Fidelis da Silva & Eduardo Janser de Azevedo Dantas, 2021. "Bigger Is Not Always Better: Review of Small Wind in Brazil," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-26, February.
    2. Júlio César Holanda Araújo & Wallason Farias de Souza & Antonio Jeovah de Andrade Meireles & Christian Brannstrom, 2020. "Sustainability Challenges of Wind Power Deployment in Coastal Ceará State, Brazil," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-18, July.
    3. Manoel Fortunato Sobrinho Junior & Maria Carolina Ramirez Hernandez & Sthenia Santos Albano Amora & Elis Regina Costa de Morais, 2021. "Perception of Environmental Impacts of Wind Farms in Agricultural Areas of Northeast Brazil," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    4. dos Santos, Fábio Sandro & do Nascimento, Kerolly Kedma Felix & da Silva Jale, Jader & Xavier, Sílvio Fernando Alves & Ferreira, Tiago A.E., 2024. "Brazilian wind energy generation potential using mixtures of Weibull distributions," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 189(PB).

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