Chinese wind turbine firm considers $29m manufacturing facility in Brazil

The Chinese manufacturer said it could invest up to $29 million (BRL$ 150million) in the factory, which has the potential to create 250 direct jobs and a further 850 indirect ones.

The firm signed a protocol of intentions with Bahia state governor Jerônimo Rodrigues in a ceremony last Wednesday (22 March).

Goldwind is the supplier for two wind farms in Brazil, according to Windpower Intelligence, the research and data division of Windpower Monthly, including the 180MW Tanque Novo Tanque Novo (180MW) OnshoreBahia, Brazil, Central & South America Click to see full details project in Bahia, which is due to come online next year.

It was also the supplier for the 82.8MW Lagoa do Barro Extension Lagoa do Barro Extension (82.8MW) OnshorePiauí, Brazil, Central & South America Click to see full details in neighbouring Piauí state, which came online last year.

Rodrigues revealed that Goldwind, named last week as the world’s top supplier of commissioned wind turbines in 2022, is on Brazilian President’s Lula’s schedule during a state visit to China this week.

He said of Goldwind’s intentions in Bahia: “Our expectation, based on this term of cooperation and relationship, is the generation of jobs and income, and the strengthening of our image as a state with strong potential for renewable energy”.

According to the Observatory of Economic Complexity, Bahia’s top trading partner in China, to which it sells petrol.

Goldwind’s general director of Brazil, José Eduardo Teixeira also signalled the wider intentions of the company in Bahia.

He said: “The state is strategically positioned, with road and port infrastructure. The industry is accompanied by a whole cluster [of companies] because logistics are very expensive. So, if we manage to bring in all our big suppliers, the product itself becomes much more competitive.”

The Bahia governor also met representatives from Chinese blade maker Sinoma last week, which is also in talks about a factory in the state.

Earlier this month, Siemens Gamesa, which accounts for nearly 20% of Brazil’s operational wind fleet, said it was putting its Camaçari plant on the country’s Atlantic coast into “temporary hibernation” as a result of market conditions.