THE EXPANSION OF WIND FARMS IN THE BRAZILIAN SEMIARID REGION IN THE 21ST CENTURY

Abstract

The Brazilian semi-arid region holds a significant part of the country's wind power potential for electricity generation. This condition of the region aroused in the 21st century the interest of several companies (national and international) of the wind power sector to promote the installation of wind farms in municipalities within its boundaries. The objective of this work is to analyze some characteristics inherent to the process of expansion of the wind sector in the Brazilian semiarid region in the 21st century. We used secondary data, consulting portals on the internet and reading reports to better understand the expansion of the wind sector in the country. From these procedures we elaborated tables, graphs and maps that helped us to obtain a conjunctural understanding about the theme. We noticed that the expansion of the wind power sector in Brazil occurs substantially after the world economic crisis of 2008, as a way to direct the monetary capital immobilized in productive capital, mainly in countries with emerging economies, such as Brazil and Mexico. The action of the State was and is fundamental for this growth to be possible. The expansion of the sector occurs, basically, with the territorialization of the wind power equipment production plants and wind farms. And the main area of diffusion of this territorialization is the semi-arid region, which concentrates 80% of the country's wind power plants in operation and 84% of the power granted for energy generation. Contradictorily, the income obtained with this millionaire production does not stay in the hands of the owners of the land where the wind farms are located, but with the companies that lease this land for energy generation. The result is the widening of social inequalities historically built in the country. Therefore, we conclude that the expansion of the wind sector in Brazil is one of the fronts for the advancement of capital accumulation, favoring national and foreign companies while promoting various damages to peasants and nature.