The commissioning of Serra do Seridó marks a major milestone for EDF in Brazil, confirming its commitment to the country’s energy transition. Comprising 85 wind turbines, this wind farm is capable of generating a significant amount of electricity, equivalent to the annual consumption of around 1.5 million Brazilian households.
The park benefits from guaranteed tariffs for part of its production thanks to an auction organized by the federal government in 2019. The remainder of the electricity is sold via multi-year power purchase agreements (cPPA), ensuring the project’s profitability and long-term viability.
Economic and social impact
Construction of Serra do Seridó will take place in two phases, starting in 2021, and will mobilize almost 2,000 people, with over 30% of jobs being local. EDF Renewables has also set up socio-economic initiatives to support local communities, including training for farmers on the restoration of degraded rural areas, in partnership with Paraibana, the state land resource management company.
Present in Brazil for almost 30 years, EDF has over 1.8 GW of solar and wind power projects, operates the Sinop hydroelectric plant (402 MW) and the Norte Fluminense (827 MW) and Marlim Azul (565 MW) combined-cycle power plants. The group is also developing storage solutions, and recently won a project in the electricity transmission sector.
Future prospects
The inauguration of Serra do Seridó by EDF Renouvelables represents a significant step forward in the group’s decarbonization strategy. Béatrice Buffon, Group Executive Vice President, International and Chairman and CEO of EDF Renewables, underlines that this project contributes to the fight against climate change while promoting the socio-economic progress of local communities, a crucial element for a fair and sustainable energy transition.
By supplying renewable energy, EDF Renouvelables not only helps to reduce CO2 emissions, but also contributes to the modernization of Brazil’s energy infrastructure. This initiative is in line with EDF’s global objectives of decarbonization and promotion of renewable energies, reinforcing the company’s position as a leader in the green energy sector.
EDF Renewables continues to explore new opportunities to expand its portfolio of renewable projects in Brazil, aiming to create a long-term positive impact on the economy and the environment.