Petrobras launches tenders for first offshore wind project

Brazil's federal oil company Petrobras has launched two tenders for an offshore wind pilot project off Rio de Janeiro state's coast. 

One process is for the acquisition and processing of geophysical data in ultra-shallow waters off São João da Barra. 

The geophysical data acquisition, processing and interpretation services include electrical tomography (electro-resistivity), bathymetry and topography, from the beach environment to a depth of approximately 10m, in an area of approximately 1.5km2.

The tender documents are available on Petrobras' procurement website Petronect, under ID number 7004452335. 

The second tender (ID 7004460462) is for the acquisition of geotechnical data in shallow and ultra-shallow water and beach environments. 

São João da Barra is home to the Açu port and industrial complex, which serves as an offshore logistics base for Petrobras and other oil companies. 

Petrobras has several offshore wind projects being reviewed by federal environmental regulator Ibama. The pilot plant off Rio is designed to have one turbine with capacity of 18MW. 

Congress approved the regulatory framework for offshore wind at the end of 2024, and the law was signed by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva in January. The mines and energy ministry expects to publish the decree regulating the law this year.