Chafariz Onshore Wind Complex

Chafariz reaffirms our commitment to onshore wind energy in Latin America

Operating plants Onshore wind Brazil Neoenergia

The Iberdrola Group reaffirms its commitment to onshore wind power in Brazil with the construction of a new flagship project. The Chafariz project, which came into operation in 2022, is located next to the town of Santa Luzia, in one of the windiest areas in the Americas. This large renewable facility consists of 15 wind farms and has a total installed power of 471,25 MW, of which 61% is for the Regulated Market (ACR) and 39% for the Open Contracting Environment (ACL).

The complex has 136 SG132-model wind turbines, with a unit capacity of over 3.465 MW. It is one of the most modern and efficient wind turbines on the market, with a height of 150 meters and a blade length of 64.5 metres. The domestically manufacutred nacelles weigh more than 70 tonnes and were installed at a height of 84 metres, the equivalent of a 28-storey building.

Bringing the operation forward 

On 29 July 2021, Neoenergia started commercial operation External link, opens in new window. of the wind farm complex by commissioning the first 10 wind turbines, with an installed capacity of 34.65 MW. The Brazilial subsidiary was thus 17 months ahead of the term of the contract in the Regulated Market.

In January 2022 the 15 wind farms of the complex came into operation, Enlace externo, se abre en ventana nueva. with an installed capacity of 467.77 MW, which is enough to supply one million people per year.  

Construction of the complex began in October 2019. Since then, more than 1,400 jobs have been generated, at peak workloads, of which aprroximately 40 % were local labour.

In addition to contributing to job creation, the company has carried out various actions to benefit the municipalities around Santa Luzia. It has improved access to the wind farm area and built 116 kilometres of road, as well as developing other social and environmental initiatives such as training courses, installing photovoltaic panels in health units and rehabilitating a school.

One of Brazil's largest renewables complexes 

Neoenergia also has in the same region the photovoltaic plant Santa Luzia External link, opens in new window., the company's first solar plant for centralised generation. After its entry into operation in March 2023, it had a capacity of 149.3 MW, enough to supply more than 100,000 homes. Thus, together with Chafariz, they form one of the largest renewable complexes in the country, with the capacity to meet the energy demand of around three million Brazilians.

Santa Luzia's production will be entirely destined for the Open Market Environment and has already marketed part of its energy through a PPA (Power Purchase Agreement) with Claro. The contract will run for 12 years from 2022. 

Iberdrola, world leader in renewable energies

At Iberdrola, we decided to commit to renewable energies more than two decades ago as a fundamental pillar on which to build our safe, clean and competitive business model. Thanks to this vision, we are today world leaders in renewable energies, reaching 42,187 MW of renewables in operation by the end of 2023.

This commitment is reflected in our Strategic Plan, in which we will allocate €15.5bn gross to renewables. More than half of this amount is focused on offshore wind in the US, UK, France and Germany; 28% on onshore wind and 18% on solar.

^* Neoenergia, S. A. is 50 % + 1 share indirectly owned by Iberdrola, S. A.