Petrobras Explores Offshore Wind Potential in Rio de Janeiro

Petrobras, a Brazilian state-owned oil and gas company, is venturing into the realm of renewable energy with plans to develop an offshore wind pilot project off the coast of Rio de Janeiro. The company has recently issued tenders for geophysical and geotechnical studies to assess the feasibility of this ambitious project.

Exploring Offshore Wind Potential

The first tender focuses on the acquisition, processing, and interpretation of geophysical data in ultra-shallow waters near João da Barra. This includes electrical tomography, bathymetric surveys, and topographic surveys up to a depth of 10 meters over a 1.5 square kilometer area. The second tender involves the acquisition of geotechnical data in shallow and ultra-shallow water as well as beach environments.

Interested parties can access the tender documents on the Petronect procurement platform (IDs 7004452335 and 7004460462) with a closing date of June 26.

Brazil’s Offshore Wind Potential

In 2024, Petrobras signed a Protocol of Intentions with the Rio de Janeiro state government to collaborate on studies for the offshore wind pilot project. A recent study conducted by DNV for the World Bank Group highlighted Brazil’s vast offshore wind potential, estimating over 1,200 GW. This includes 480 GW from fixed-bottom and 748 GW from floating wind technologies.

With the passage of a new law earlier this year, Brazil has established regulations for allocating and permitting offshore wind development areas. This move signals the country’s commitment to transitioning towards cleaner and more sustainable energy sources.

As Petrobras delves into the offshore wind sector, it marks a significant step towards diversifying its energy portfolio and contributing to Brazil’s renewable energy goals.