Wind energy has rapidly developed worldwide to reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, accelerate the energy transition, diversify the global energy matrix, and mitigate climate change. Offshore wind energy emerges as a promising alternative in coastal areas. Brazil’s extensive coastline presents excellent potential for deploying offshore wind farms, with some projects currently in development to meet energy demand. However, these projects are in the initial phase of environmental licensing, emphasizing the importance of public participation and careful analysis. Installing offshore wind farms in the North Sea revealed socio-environmental impacts, necessitating mitigation and monitoring plans for seabirds and marine mammals. Onshore wind energy projects in Brazil also identified challenges, including more support for local communities and environmental interventions. Despite the urgency to combat emissions, decision-making in energy planning should consider all socio-environmental externalities in these projects located in areas of conservation importance for coastal birds and migrating cetaceans in Rio Grande do Norte.
The State of Rio Grande do Norte presents an extremely favourable wind profile. The region is characterized by trade winds, which exhibit a constant frequency throughout the year [25]. In the areas of the state where offshore wind farms are being planned, the average wind speed varies between 7 and 11 m/s at 100 meters height, depending on the time of the year [26]. In addition to the well-established onshore wind scenario in the state, several actions are positioning Rio Grande do Norte as one of the leading players in the country's offshore wind energy race. These actions include the acceleration project for renewable energy businesses and partnerships with international organizations.
The Brazilian Energy Research Company [21] listed the main challenges and actions for offshore wind energy development in the country, including uncertainties regarding potential socioeconomic conflicts between offshore wind activity and other activities [21]. From this perspective, it becomes indispensable to identify the areas frequently used by the fishing community. Additionally, it is crucial to investigate areas that play a fundamental role in the feeding, reproduction, birth, and spawning of marine species and regions that harbour coral reef ecosystems. Simultaneously, it is essential to establish appropriate means for the decarbonisation of the Brazilian energy matrix to occur in harmony with the traditional, cultural, and socioeconomic activities intrinsic to the region. Despite the existence of 74 offshore wind projects in the Environmental Licensing Process (PEO) phase, totalling over 12,500 registered towers and a total potential of 182,988 MW, the socio-environmental criteria necessary for a better definition of the installation areas of these towers are still not clearly established. This lack of clarity results in a gap in the scientific literature that addresses the relationship between the implementation of these ventures, marine biota, and the existing human occupation on the Cost of the State of Rio Grande do Norte and along the entire Brazilian coast. In this context, there needs to be more knowledge about the alterations and responses of marine fauna to the installation and operation of these projects.
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