---
title: Onshore Wind Power
type: technology
url: "https://www.envisioning.com/research/grid/brazil__onshore-wind-power"
hub: grid
summary: "Brazil's northeast coast hosts one of the world's best onshore wind resources — 30+ GW installed capacity making wind the country's second-largest power source after hydro"
---

# Onshore Wind Power

Brazil's northeast coast hosts one of the world's best onshore wind resources — 30+ GW installed capacity making wind the country's second-largest power source after hydro
- Technology Readiness Level: 9/9
- Impact: 2/5
- Investment: 3/5
Brazil installed over 30 GW of onshore wind capacity, overwhelmingly concentrated in the northeast states of Bahia, Rio Grande do Norte, Ceará, and Piauí. The trade winds that blow along the coast provide capacity factors exceeding 40% — among the highest onshore wind performance globally.

Wind became Brazil's second-largest power source (after hydroelectric), overtaking natural gas and biomass. The growth was driven by competitive auctions that reduced wind electricity costs below R/MWh, making it cheaper than new gas or coal plants.

Wind complements hydro naturally: wind speeds peak during the dry season (June-November) when reservoir levels are lowest. This counter-cyclical pattern reduces Brazil's vulnerability to drought-induced energy crises — a major concern after the 2001 and 2021 power rationing episodes.

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Source: Envisioning — Technology Research Institute (https://www.envisioning.com/research/grid/brazil__onshore-wind-power)