On May 4, students from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) participated in a technical visit to the Acauã Wind Complex. The initiative provided a practical experience on the operation of a wind farm in operation, bringing the theory of the classrooms closer to the reality of the electricity sector.
The activity brought together 37 participants, including students from the Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Computer Engineering, Petroleum Engineering and Computer Science courses, as well as professors Thiago de Oliveira Alves Rocha, Max Chianca Pimentel Filho and Rodrigo Prado de Medeiros.
The program began with guidance on safety, integration of wind energy into the electrical system, environmental aspects and relationship with the surrounding communities. Then, the group visited the operation and maintenance system and the area of wind turbines, where the main processes and structures of the complex were presented.
On behalf of the Department of Electrical Engineering at UFRN, Professor Rodrigo Prado de Medeiros highlighted the relevance of the experience:
“I express my gratitude to Aliança Energia for the excellent service provided during the technical visit to the Acauã Wind Complex. The organization and readiness of the team in sharing technical knowledge made the day extremely productive for our students. It is inspiring to see a company that not only leads the power generation sector, but also cares about education and the humanized reception of future professionals. Undoubtedly, this contact strengthens the essential link between the university and the productive electricity sector.”
Student Gabriel Faustino also highlighted the lessons learned by the visit:
“One of the most striking points was to learn about the humanitarian activities developed by the company. The positive impact on the communities of Santana, Tenente Laurentino, Lagoa Nova and São Vicente, combined with the genuine commitment to sustainability and environmental preservation, serves as an example for the entire sector.”
The coordinator of the Acauã Wind Complex, José Wilker Brito, also emphasized the importance of the initiative:
“The visit of the Engineering students to the Acauã Wind Complex was an important opportunity for integration between theory and practice, providing students with a real view of the operation and challenges of the sector. In addition to technical learning, we highlight the diversity of professional paths that Engineering offers, with possibilities to work in areas such as projects, development, supplies, planning, operation, maintenance, commercial and regulatory, covering the entire value chain of the business.”
Antônio Leydson Xavier, supervisor of the Acauã Wind Complex, who accompanied the visit, shared his perception of the moment:
“Receiving and accompanying the students during the visit to the Acauã Wind Complex was an extremely enriching experience. It is gratifying to be able to contribute to the training of these future professionals, sharing practical knowledge and presenting the challenges and opportunities of our day-to-day operations and maintenance of a wind farm. Moments like this reinforce the importance of integration between the electricity sector and academia, in addition to motivating us to continue supporting initiatives that promote technical and human development.”
Aliança Energia’s action is aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with emphasis on SDG 4 – Quality Education and SDG 17 – Partnerships and Means of Implementation.
The visit ended with the registration of the activities carried out and a moment of exchange of experiences between the technical team and the participants. The initiative integrates the actions of approximation between the energy sector and the academic environment, contributing to the training of new professionals.
Aliança Energia points out that this was the first class of students received at the Acauã Wind Complex, marking the beginning of the project’s Visits Program. With this, the complex remains available to receive new interested groups. Visits must be scheduled in advance through the website, in the “Contact Us” option, or by e-mail [email protected].
