Iberdrola subsidiary Neoenergia signs wind PPA with Brazilian conglomerate

Brazil’s Neoenergia has signed a power purchase agreement to supply electricity from two new wind complexes to J&F Group, one of the country’s largest private business groups.

Running from 2023, the ten-year deal with J&F’s energy arm Âmbar Energia covers power from 300MW of Neoenergia’s Chafariz and Oitis complexes in north-east Brazil.

The 471MW Chafariz Complex Chafariz Complex (471MW) OnshoreSanta Luzia, State of Paraíba, Brazil, Central & South America Click to see full details, is located in Paraiba state and will consist of 15 wind farms featuring 136 turbines. So far 53 turbines with an installed capacity of 184MW have entered commercial operation.

Work on the 566.5MW Oitis Wind Complex Oitis Wind Complex (566.5MW) OnshoreDom Inocêncio, Piauí, Brazil, Central & South America Click to see full detailsin Paibi began in November 2020. The complex will consist of 12 wind farms.

The projects will help Neoenergia, a subsidiary of Spain’s Iberdrola, achieve its goal of tripling its wind energy capacity to 1.5GW

Neoenergia said the deal reflected the growing interest amongst Brazilian industry to reduce its environmental impact.

“More and more, the market values sustainability in business and we continue innovating and striving to meet clean energy demand,” said Hugo Nunes, Neoenergia’s liberalised business officer.

J&F Group’s interests include JBS, the world’s largest meat packer, forestry company Eldorado Brasil Celulose and consumer products brand Flora.

“Access to clean energy sources is strategic for the J&F group, with its companies moving ever faster in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in their production chains”, said Âmbar Energia CEO Marcelo Zanatta.

JBS recently committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2040.