Framework de maturidade circular: um modelo para usinas eólicas

Abstract

Sustainable development is based on the need to rethink how resources are used in all economic activities. About the wind energy sector, the massive use of materials for its development, including the use of raw materials derived from fossil fuels, has motivated the scientific community and authorities to demand paradigm shifts. In the literature, the circular economy applied to the wind energy sector is still in its infancy. However, technical reports point out that the transition of the wind industry from a linear model to a circular model depends on changes in the plants' strategic, tactical, and operational management system, in addition, to support from its stakeholders. The thesis proposes a framework for a circular maturity model for wind farms. The research method was based on five steps: i) planning, ii) theoretical research, iii) conceptual modeling, iv) development of the measurement tool, and v) validation of the framework. As a result, an overview of the circular economy in the wind sector was described through spatial parameters of macro, meso, and microscale sustainability, in which its stakeholders and main elements of each sphere were identified to determine responsibilities for the development of the circular economy. Regarding the result of the proposed model, its structure presents five levels of maturity (non-existent, initial, intermediate, advanced, and optimized) supported by four dimensions: governance, decommissioning, project, and useful life extension. The model also comprises a tool for diagnosing circularity and circular economy strategies that will lead the actions of wind farm managers to more advanced levels of circularity. The guidelines for applying the model are presented to contribute to implementing circular practices in the wind sector.