The Center for Wind Energy

   CONTENTS  

Foreword

Research Structures

Energy, Environment, and Biodiversity

Humanities and Ethics

Culture and Education

Society and Development

Information and Communication Technology

Biology and Health

Research Structures and Researchers

About

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Energy that comes from the wind

The Center for Wind Energy (CE-Eólica), chaired by Professor Jorge Antonio Villar Alé, aims to promote the scientific and technological development of wind energy in Brazil. For this purpose, the center activities extend over the university, industry, and research institutes and include training professionals.

Supported by Eletrobras, the infrastructure of CE-Eólica includes equipment unknown elsewhere in Latin America, e.g., two wind tunnels used to calibrate anemometers (which measure the speed of wind) for studies on airfoil aerodynamics and assessing the performance of aerogenerators.

The relationship with the market is one of main interests of CE-Eólica, which conducts surveys of the wind potential and technical economic viability of wind farms in Brazil. In regard to technological development, partnerships are established with companies interested in projecting and manufacturing eolic machines. Another line of activity focuses on the training of human resources.

European and Latin American institutions and companies seek data for Brazil at CE-Eólica, which established partnerships in Portugal with the Department of Mechanical Engineering of the University of Coimbra and the Institute of Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Management (Inegi) of the University of Porto. CE-Eólica also conducts joint projects with the University of São Paulo and Federal University of Pernambuco.

Recently, a portion of the activities performed by CE-Eólica were included in the services provided by Labelo (Laboratories Specialized in Electro-Electronics – Calibration and Assays) of PUCRS to the community. CE-Eólica facilities were included in the accredited laboratory complex managed by Labelo, which has experience in the field of renewable energy.

The process of accreditation at the National Institute of Metrology (Inmetro) to provide services complying with the Brazilian norms, ABNT NBR IEC 61400, is currently under way. The provision of accredited anemometer calibration services, complemented by other resources of interest to the field of wind energy, will start in 2013.