With a capacity of 1.8 MW , Petrobras’ first wind power project, the Macau Pilot Wind Farm, has now been in operation for five years

Projects open up prospect of new sources of energy

Petrobras foresees the investment of US$ 669 million, up to 2013, in renewable energy projects, which include studies and the generating of electricity through wind farms, solar plants and SHEP s.

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WIND POWER

The company has developed its own projects in locations where Cenpes has been measuring the wind potential over several years. Partnerships have also been entered into, with a view to participating, in 2009, in the specific wind power auction that the federal government is preparing. Petrobras’ first wind power project, the Macau Pilot Wind Farm, which has an installed capacity of 1.8 MW, has been in operation for five years, producing a total of 24,500 MWh over that time, with the consequent avoidance of around 6 thousand tons of CO2 emissions, every year.

SOLAR POWER

Petrobras has eight thermosolar systems installed at its refineries and fertilizer plants, as well as at the company’s head office, to heat the water for the changing rooms and canteens. During 2008, these systems, comprising 2,180 m2 of closed flat collectors, avoided the emission of 309 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere. In an effort to conserve energy and help the environment, while staying focused on the economic aspects, the company continued its work, in 2008, on prospecting, technical and financial analyses, and the development of basic projects. In 2009, Petrobras intends to install 4,648 m2 of collectors at 14 Business Units, which will avoid the emission of around 968 tons of CO2 a year into the atmosphere.

SM ALL-SCALE HYDROELECTRIC PLANTS (SHEP S)

Studies have been carried out for the optimization of the Pira SHEP project, with an anticipated installed capacity of 19.5 MW, which is to be built by Petrobras on the Rio do Peixe, in Santa Catarina. The environmental impact will be limited, since the area of the reservoir will cover a mere 0.3 km2, which is small even compared to other SHEPs, most of which have an area of up to 3 km2. In 2009, new SHEP projects are to be developed, with a view to expanding the company’s portfolio of undertakings.