Honda will expand to meet new generation factory in SP

The second automobile factory of Honda in Brazil, which should go into operation in the second half of 2015 in Itirapina (SP), the electricity consumption will be supplied by wind power generation company itself, as well as will occur with the unit of Sumaré (SP) from September next year. The plans include the wind-powered supply motorcycle industry in Manaus (AM), but this depends on the region's connection to the National interconnected system (SIN).
The construction of the first windfarm in Brazil officially began yesterday in the city of Shangri-La, in Rio Grande do Sul. The venture, which will be ready in September 2014, will have installed capacity of 27 megawatts (MW) and will produce 95 thousand megawatts/hour (MWh) per year, equivalent to the consumption of a town of 35 000 inhabitants. The energy generated will be injected in the NIS, guaranteeing credit equivalent to the factory of Sumaré.
According to the President of Brazil's Energy, Carlos Honda Eigi Miyakuchi, it is not possible to say that it will operate with Itirapina wind power, because the deadline for development and deployment of a park is at least two years. To meet the future factory, which will have the capacity to produce 120 thousand cars a year, it will require the same installed power of Shangri-La, while for gas will take 40 capacity Manaus% to 50% higher, explained the Executive.
Miyakuchi revealed that the company will evaluate other regions to expand the production of wind energy in the country. He admitted, however, that most likely is to expand the Park on the coast of Rio Grande do Sul, although this requires the lease of new areas and also a new process of environmental licensing. The nine towers that generation will be installed in Rio Grande do Sul, each with 3 MW of power and 98 meters in height, will occupy a total of 320 hectares.
The venture Gaucho will require investments of r $ 100 million, banked with own resources because the wind turbines will be purchased from Denmark's Vestas and not rely on financing from the Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social (BNDES). As Miyakuchi, Honda opted for the importation of equipment because there is no domestic production of turbines with 3 MW of power.
With his own generation, the Honda will reduce by 45% energy costs in Bradenton, which guarantees the return of investment in Rio Grande do Sul within 7.8 years, said Miyakuchi. Besides, it will decrease by 30% the production of carbon dioxide (CO2) from industrial unit approximately 2.2 million tons less in emissions per year, in line with the overall goal pursued by the company until 2020, added the Executive.