By Lena Babaeva Coradini

GE has received commitments for 400 megawatts of new wind turbine deals in Brazil's 2010 alternative energy auction:

Brazil, the wind energy leader in Latin America, continues to offer major opportunities for wind energy development. As part of the country’s 2010 Alternative Energy Auctions, GE today announced commitments from four developers to supply more than 400 megawatts of clean, wind-generated electricity to Brazil’s renewable energy capacity. These commitments include 258 of GE’s advanced 1.5 and 1.6-megawatt wind turbines. GE’s 1.5-megawatt series wind turbines are the most widely deployed wind turbines in the world.

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Traditionally, Brazil has relied heavily on hydropower for its electricity supply. The recent wind auctions reinforce the country’s commitment to make wind power a mainstream source of energy as it continues to expand its renewable energy portfolio.

Brazil is Latin America’s leading wind market with 31.6 gigawatts of capacity expected to be installed by 2025, according to a recent study from IHS Emerging Energy Research. The study also highlights Brazil’s market scale and proactive renewable energy policies as key elements in creating a steady growth in wind power development for the country.