Ventos de São Zacarias

Northeastern Brazil is home to some of the best wind resources in the world, and the project has been built in what has become one of the largest wind farm clusters in Latin America. The wind power complex spans over four municipalities in the states of Piauí and Pernambuco. Construction started in 2022, and commercial operations began in November 2024.

Ventos de São Zacarias is a joint venture between Hydro Rein and Macquarie Asset Management. The wind power plant delivers power to Hydro's bauxite mine Paragominas and the alumina refinery Alunorte, through long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs). Ventos de São Zacarias has 80 turbines (Nordex N163), each with a 5.7 MW output, resulting in a power production of around 2 TWh per year.

Sustainability and local involvement 

Ventos de São Zacarias has set high standards for social sustainability, climate and the environment both during development and operations phase. Although the area is sparsely populated, there are several neighbors who were affected, most of them small scale farmers. Sponsored by Ventos de São Zacarias, an agricultural program was conducted to support the farmers as part of the Livelihood Restoration Plan, prepared in alignment with the International Finance Corporation Performance Standards. The project also organized workshops for farmers, to support them in increasing their productivity and learning from each other's methods.

A special focus was given to the many families who identify as part of the Quilombola community in the area. The project team has collaborated with these communities to develop solutions and provide local benefits, such as financing and constructing a new Quilombola community center, a new school, and a new sports facility.

Learn more: Growing 80 wind turbines and 20,000 trees

Project website: https://www.ventosdesaozacarias.com.br/