Plans and programs for the prevention and mitigation of socio environmental impacts: an analysis of two wind energy projects in Rio Grande do Norte – Brazil, between 2010 and 2023

Abstract

The wind energy industry in Brazil has contributed to the energy transition for a cleaner matrix in the country. This expansion occurs mainly with incentives for the renewable energy sector and industry starting in 2002 and is more consistent after 2009 with the leitmois system. Therefore, the production of energy from wind sources through a centralized model carries various impacts, exposing populations to socio-environmental vulnerabilities. The state of Rio Grande do Norte stands out in the production of wind energy in Brazil with the largest installed capacity and second largest number of plants. Likewise, this research aims to analyze how RN wind energy projects are planned actions to prevent and mitigate socio-environmental impacts. For this purpose, we have analyzed Reports and Environmental Impact Studies of undertakings for the centralized generation of wind energy, consulting the Socio-Environmental Plans and Programs. A greater number of Plans/Programs was observed in the environmental dimension to the detriment of the socioeconomic dimension. For most of the environmental impacts reported by literature review studies, there are corresponding Plans/Programs in most of the projects analyzed, while the vast majority of socioeconomic impacts reported by the literature have corresponding Plans/Programs only in a minority of projects.