Banca de DEFESA: JOÃO MODESTO DE MEDEIROS JÚNIOR

Uma banca de DEFESA de MESTRADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
DISCENTE : JOÃO MODESTO DE MEDEIROS JÚNIOR
DATA : 28/02/2018
HORA: 08:30
LOCAL: Anfiteatro das Aves, Centro de Biociências, UFRN
TÍTULO:

WHERE DOES THE WINDS BLOW?
SOCIO-ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS AND VULNERABILITIES OF THE WIND FARM IN THE
QUEIMADAS COMMUNITY

PALAVRAS-CHAVES:

Wind Energy, technology, society, social and environmental impacts, wind farms.

PÁGINAS: 103
GRANDE ÁREA: Outra
ÁREA: Ciências Ambientais
RESUMO:

The civilizational model generated by the Industrial Revolution, through large-scale production and for the
purpose of profit making, began to use excessively available energy sources, especially those derived from fossil
fuels. Thus, after proving the negative impacts caused by this energy modality, the use of the strength of the
winds, which we now call wind energy, is an alternative. This, in turn, although it has smaller impacts, when
compared to the other energy sources, also cause vulnerabilities to the social and environmental environment.
Thus, the present dissertation aims to analyze the socio-environmental impacts and vulnerabilities generated by
the implementation of wind farms. Specifically, the region of Rio Grande do Norte is analyzed, as it is one of the
Brazilian states with the greatest potential for wind energy production, and the specific case of the Morro dos
Ventos IV wind farm, located in the Queimadas city of João Câmara. Rather than analyzing environmental
aspects, our intention is also to foster critical reflection on the political, economic and social aspects that led to
the use of this energy as well as those directly involving the production of this energy modality. As for the
methodology, this work was used in the literature review, especially those related to the studies of Science,
Technology and Society, (Winner, Bazzo, etc.), as well as authors whose studies deal with wind energy issues
(such as: Hofstaetter, Queroz, Ferraz, May et al, Richetti, Araújo, Taylor, Moura, Budke, among others). As it
was a case study, we also used semi-structured interviews with social actors that are directly related to the
Queimadas Community wind farm (such as local residents and environmental agency, such as Instituto de
Desenvolvimento e Meio Ambiente do Rio Grande do Norte - IDEMA). Likewise, even considering the
beneficial potential of wind farms for the environment and for society, there are still several aspects that need to
be better investigated. Although it has certain advantages over other energy sources, it can be concluded that in
addition to the environmental factors, political, social and economic factors also guide the directions that "blow
the wind" of wind energy within the society. Our case study allowed us to verify, among other factors: a
licensing process with serious regulatory failures in its process; the absence and the lack of interest of the
management of the company, responsible for the wind farm, by the site; the inexpressive income generation for
the community of Queimadas and the total lack of community interaction with the new technology that was
implemented in the area (the wind farm). As a conclusion, the simple fact that wind energy is considered clean
and renewable and that therefore installed wind power facilities comply with the standards of scientific and
technological policies considered a priori sustainable, this in itself is not guaranteeing the reduction of negative
impacts and the socio-environmental vulnerability that affect the social groups where this technology is installed,
thus, it does not guarantee the social sustainability of the surrounding areas. That is, wind farms are not
necessarily synonymous with sustainability for the areas around them.

MEMBROS DA BANCA:
Presidente - 1987942 - ANGELA LUZIA MIRANDA
Interno - 1451225 - DANIEL DURANTE PEREIRA ALVES
Externo à Instituição - LEONARDO PIVÔTTO NICODEMO - IFRN