Day 3: August 13, 2014

Today, August 13, we started our day in Osario, a town nearby the Enerfin Wind Farm.  I did not have the best start today, as I felt a little under the weather, feeling as if I was coming down with a cold of some sorts.  I also didn’t get much sleep as the hotel room in Osario was very cold and the bed wasn’t very comfortable.  After eating breakfast at the hotel with the other students, we rode the bus to Enerfin Wind Farm.  Wind energy is a blooming energy source in Brazil, this wind farm almost nearing completion with over 80 wind turbines already in operation.  Enerfin is a Spanish-owned company operating wind farms throughout Southern Brazil, Canada and Spain.  The company is also beginning operations in Australia.  I thought it was particularly interesting how sophisticated the wind turbines implemented on their wind farms were.  All implemented a solid drive system as opposed to a gearbox system, requiring less maintenance, providing a longer life and producing significantly less noise, major drawbacks of the gearbox system.

Selfie with a wind mill

So many wind mills

Windmills on windmills on windmills

After the wind farm visit, on our way back to Florianopolis, we stopped at authentic Brazilian barbeque, a churrascaria.  The food was DELICIOUS!  At a Brazilian barbeque the waiter brings you meat on a giant skewer, and cuts you pieces.  The waiter will continue to serve you meat until you tell him to stop.  As a big fan of steaks, going to a churrascaria was like a dream come true.