Courtesy Wikipedia

The government of Minas Gerais and CEMIG (Companhia Energética de Minas Gerais) unveiled a Wind Atlas of the state last week indicating that it is home to up to 40 GW of wind power capacity (@ 100 M). The highest potential is located along the northern borders of the state and in the densely populated Triângulo Mineiro, which protrudes to the West.

According to the Governor of Minas, CEMIG is already studying a potential wind project in conjunction with EDP Renovaveis and the state is looking for additional partners (CEMIG plans to take a minority 49% share in all projects).

CEMIG was the first Brazilian company to operate a domestic wind park, initiating a 250 kW facility in Gourveia in 1994.  In 2009, the electricity company partnered with the Argentine firm IMPSA to acquire three wind parks in Ceará with a total installed capacity of some 100 MW.  The first of these three parks (Parque Eólico de Praias de Parajuru) was brought online last August with a capacity of 28.5 MW.

Watch a video of the presentation of the Wind Atlas: