BWEC 2012 takes place over two days, 2-3 April 2012, in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The programme includes keynote speeches by leading figures on the Brazilian and world wind energy stage and senior political figures at both federal and state levels.

Themes which BWEC 2012 will address include:

Wind within an integrated energy and economic policy in Brazil

• How Brazil’s economic policy fits with its energy policy in wind energy

• Rise of the North East as energy producer and manufacturing hub for wind equipment

• Development of the ‘semi-arido’ regions of the North East

• Role of the auction system in bringing down prices of wind

• Role of BNDES/ favourable lending terms for domestically manufactured equipment

The role of wind in Brazil’s energy mix

• Wind at ‘grid parity’ : cheaper than natural gas

• Role of wind in meeting the growing demand for energy in Brazil

• Optimising the use of resources of wind in Brazil/mix with hydro

• The Belamonte challenge: wind as a backup in event of delays?

• Wind vs oil & gas: focusing on export markets for fossil fuels?

• Grid connection issues: the north/south divide

Brazilian wind in a global perspective

• Lessons for Brazil from Europe, the US

• Wind in Brazil compared to the other BRICs (China and India)

• Is Brazil capitalising on the advantages of its large domestic market?

• Lessons for other nations from the Brazilian auction experience

Brazil’s Role in the Latin American Wind Market

The conference will assess whether Brazil will emerge as the leading manufacturer of wind energy equipment in Latin American countries and the scope for other nations to build businesses to service the wind supply chain. It will also investigate whether there is an integrated policy on wind energy - and energy generally - throughout the continent.

Wind Energy Project Finance in Brazil

The conference will provide delegates with an overview of the financing options for wind projects in Brazil, with speakers representing both private equity and institutional investors – as well as debt finance providers. Discussions will cover the unique role of development banks, such as BNDES and Banco do Nordest, in Brazil – and how these institutions operate alongside private sector banks. They will also address the potential for stock markets
to provide project finance for wind and the role of European funders in Brazil. The role of the auction system and how it impacts upon financing will be assessed, as will the global financial context - and the extent to which a slowdown in investment in wind elsewhere in the world has made Brazil more attractive. Speakers will address issues such as the legal challenges in structuring wind deals in Brazil.

The Wind Energy Supply Chain: Building Brazil’s Wind Manufacturing Industry

The conference will focus on the emergence of a wind turbine manufacturing industry in Brazil and the potential for this industry to drive broader economic development. Brazil’s domestic wind energy generation market is projected to become one of the largest in the world and will require large volumes of investment in a manufacturing base for turbines and related equipment. Financial incentives for manufacturers to set up in Brazil will be discussed, as will the potential for the wind industry to contribute to Brazil’s overall economic growth. The challenge of short term bottlenecks in the supply chain (blades/towers) will also be assessed.

State Level Financing Incentives for Wind in Brazil

Bahia, Pernambuco, Piaui, Paraiba, Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande do Sul, Maranhão and Ceará are just some of the Brazilian states concentrating on the wind industry. Some are focused on projects, while others are offering a range of incentives for manufacturing companies. The conference will discuss the initiatives taking place at the state level, outline wind resources of selected states, the inward investment programmes of some states and the policy incentives being adopted at a state level. The conference will include State Governors and other senior speakers from some of the ‘Wind States’ and will incorporate workshops and focus sessions on states - and on the role of the wind energy/manufacturing industries in addressing a very specific challenge facing Brazil, to promote economic development in its less developed North East region.

Wind Generation Equipment Technology

Turbine technology continues to develop as the global wind energy market grows. The conference will review the importance of technology and assess to what extent Brazil is developing its own IP in wind turbines, where the research and development is taking place for wind energy (globally and within Brazil) and Brazil’s role in supplying future wind generation technology.