The impacts of global climate changes on the wind power density in Brazil

Brazil's wind energy production has escalated up recently. However, the long-term wind projects do not include the yet unknown impacts of climate changes on wind power. This work is an assessment of these impacts by applying forecasts of a climate model and trend analysis over climatological time series from selected ground sites. Findings indicate a favourable scenario for wind power exploitation in Brazil on the long run. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.