The São Manoel hydroelectric power station, built on the border between Mato Grosso and Pará through a partnership between CTG Brazil, EDP, and FURNAS, received authorization from the National Electric Energy Agency (Aneel) to start the commercial operation of the fourth and last generating unit, with 175 megawatts (MW) of installed capacity.

After obtaining the license, the São Manoel hydroelectric plant will start to operate with all its installed capacity of 700 megawatts (MW), enough to supply a city four times the size of Cuiabá. The project, in which R$4.1 billion was invested, generates the amount of energy equivalent to the consumption by approximately 2.5 million consumers, with the formation of a relatively small reservoir (65km2). The plant operates with run-of-river, a design that does not require a large amount of water for generation.

“For the third consecutive time, EDP and its partners were able to deliver a hydroelectric plant before the regulatory deadline. This result is a clear sign of our commitment to the development of the Brazilian electricity sector. Now we are going to apply our extensive constructive experience to the implementation of the five transmission lines for which EDP secured contracts in the last auctions, continuing to contribute to the strengthening of the national electricity system," says the president of EDP Brazil, Miguel Setas.

“The commitment to the development of the energy sector is at the heart of the partnerships in which we participate. We are always analyzing the market and looking for potential new investments to stimulate the growth of new clean energy sources in Brazil," says Evandro Vasconcelos, vice president of generation at CTG Brasil.

“From the beginning, the construction of this plant was a great challenge, but we managed to overcome it and we are very satisfied with this achievement. The anticipation of the start of operation reinforces FURNAS's "commitment to increase reliability and ensure operational excellence," explains Ricardo Medeiros, the president of FURNAS. With that in mind, in the last 12 months, approximately 400MW were added to the Brazilian Electric System, in addition to about 3,300 km of transmission lines, through partnerships formed by Furnas.

Management model

With its own methodology for project management and inspection, the first turbine started operating in December, four months ahead of schedule. The fourth and last, was delivered within the term established in the contracts for the sale of electricity in a regulated environment (CSERE).

This is the third project that EDP Brazil has delivered in advance, after Cachoeira Caldeirão, in 2016, and Santo Antônio do Jari, in 2014. Altogether, more than R$6 billion have been invested in the three projects since 2011, expanding the energy supply to the National Interconnected System (SIN) by about 1,300 megawatts (MW), enough to supply a municipality of 4.6 million inhabitants.

Environmental Plan

During its licensing process, UHE São Manoel prepared a Basic Indigenous Environmental Plan (BIEP) for each local community, respecting the specificities of each community, with the aim of mitigating and compensating for possible impacts of the construction of the enterprise. The Social Communication and Environmental Education Programs, approved by Funai and IBAMA, together with the other support programs for indigenous communities located in the area of influence, are being developed as planned.

Four schools will be constructed and a farm will be expanded, in addition to the construction of five social spaces, three community kitchens, six houses for the production of flour, three sports spaces, 17 water supply systems, five basic water units, and three supplementary houses in the urban area. To increase production activity, the plant also donated five tractors with agricultural implements, in addition to 52 boats with engines, and three vehicles to facilitate travel.

Other actions by the programs are the training of leaders and the inclusion of indigenous students in Technical and Higher Education. The center also implements educational actions for the workers of the enterprise and for the population in general with the objective of raising awareness about the different cultural and historical realities of these peoples and the appreciation of diversity.

EDP in Brazil

With over 20 years of experience in the country, EDP Brazil is one of the largest private companies in the electricity sector operating in the entire value chain. The company, which employs more than 10,000 direct and outsourced employees, has 15 hydroelectric and one thermoelectric generation units, and serves approximately 3.4 million customers through its distributors in São Paulo and Espírito Santo. It also operates in the areas of Transmission, Commercialization, and Energy Solutions. In Brazil, it is a reference in areas such as Governance and Sustainability, having been on B3's Corporate Sustainability Index (CSI) for 12 consecutive years. Recently, it stood out as a pioneer in the use of process robotization and acquired a stake in Celesc, in Santa Catarina. It has a market value of around R$9 billion, three times higher than that in 2005, when it went public on the stock exchange.

About CTG Brazil

Created in 2013, CTG Brazil is a subsidiary 100% controlled by China Three Gorges Corporation. With investments in 17 hydroelectric plants and 11 wind farms, CTG Brazil now has a portfolio with a total installed capacity of 8.27 GW. As the second largest private energy generator in the country, CTG Brazil relies on the dedication of its local talent and is committed to contributing to the Brazilian energy matrix, guided by social responsibility and respect for the environment. For further information: www.ctgbr.com.br

FURNAS
One of the most important companies in the Brazilian electricity sector, FURNAS, operates in the generation, transmission, and sale of electric energy with assets present in 15 states, as well as in the Federal District. In partnership with state and private companies, FURNAS participates in key projects for the Brazilian electricity system, ensuring an increase in the supply of electricity in the country. Its energy-generating complex includes 21 hydroelectric plants, three wind farms, and two conventional thermal plants, with an installed capacity of 18 thousand MW. The FURNAS transmitter park encompasses 82 substations with a transformation capacity of 120 thousand MVA, and about 30 thousand kilometers of transmission lines. For more information: www.furnas.com.br