Brazilian multinational to learn from North East’s offshore wind experts

A Brazilian multinational oil and gas business is sending a delegation to the North East to learn from leading firms in the region’s offshore wind sector supply chain.

Petrobras, headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, is on a fact-finding mission to discover how the North East has successfully positioned itself as a global leader in the offshore wind industry.

Representatives of the Department for International Trade Brazil will accompany the delegates as they participate in three days of activities hosted by Durham’s NOF Energy.

Activities will include site visits to regional businesses involved in the sector, including PD Ports, Wilton Engineering, DeepOcean, Smulders Projects UK and Osbit.

Petrobras delegates will also attend the Offshore Wind North East conference and exhibition at the Xcel Centre in Newton Aycliffe on November 8.

NOF Energy has organised the event alongside Energi Coast and Subsea.

Petrobras is involved in developing Brazil’s fledgling offshore wind industry. The company recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Norway-based energy firm Equinor to evaluate a joint business development that could establish offshore wind generation in Brazil.

Its aim is to have an offshore pilot project operational in the country’s northeastern Rio Grande do Norte state by 2022.

NOF Energy deputy chief exec Joanne Leng said: “The supply chain cluster in the North East is considered an exemplar within the industry and I’m confident Petrobras will gain a valuable insight into why it is a global leader in offshore wind energy.

“The fact the delegation has chosen to visit this region is an exceptional vote of confidence in the outstanding levels of expertise, knowledge and innovation based here.”

She continued: “The UK and Brazil already has a positive relationship in the oil and gas sector and I hope this can be replicated in the offshore wind industry as the South American country develops its renewable infrastructure and capabilities.”

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