OREANDA-NEWS. GDF SUEZ, through its Brazilian subsidiary Tractebel Energia, announces that full commercial operation has been achieved at the 115 MW Trairi wind parks located in the state of Ceara in Northeast Brazil.

The energy generated by the wind farms will be sold directly to commercial and industrial clients, including shopping centers, supermarkets and medium-sized enterprises.

Gerard Mestrallet, Chairman and CEO of GDF SUEZ commented : “The Trairi wind parks increase our worldwide presence in renewables whilst supporting the Group's strategy of increasing our capacity in fast growing markets. The project further illustrates our intention to diversify our overall energy portfolio”.

At the peak of the construction, which began in October 2011, the EUR 170 million projects provided employment to over 700 people, who were primarily recruited locally.

The wind farms can generate sufficient clean energy to supply a Brazilian city with a population of 200,000 and, by displacing fossil fuel generated power, reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 230,000 tons annually. In 2012, the United Nations announced the registration of the four wind farms under the Clean Development Mechanism. This registration recognizes the Group's contribution to clean and sustainable development and qualifies the wind farms to generate carbon credits.

The Group's subsidiary Tractebel Energia plans to continue investing in renewable energy and to broaden its portfolio of free market clients.

GDF SUEZ is the largest independent power producer in Brazil, representing approximately 7% of the country's total installed power generation capacity. 87% of the 8,652 MW capacity is from renewable resources. GDF SUEZ is currently also constructing Jirau, a major 3,750 MW hydropower plant located on the Madeira river, in the State of Rondonia. The project, which will produce clean and renewable energy to meet the electricity demand of 10 million Brazilian households, was recently registered with the United Nations under the Clean Development Mechanism. The Group is also present in energy related services and has been supplying the Brazilian market with LNG since 2012.