In September, Voith Hydro and Furnas signed an agreement to modernize the Porto Colombia hydropower plant located on the Grande River on the border between the states of São Paulo and Minas Gerais. Construction of the plant started in 1970 and it went into operation in 1973 with an installed capacity of 320 MW. The project marks Furnas’ first large-scale contract after privatization.
The scope of work includes the refurbishment of the Kaplan turbines, generators and the plant’s overhead crane. Also the replacement of mechanical and electrical auxiliary systems and digitization of measurement, protection and control systems will be covered. This will lead to an increase in availability of the Furnas system that supplies the National Interconnected Grid.
“With advances in technologies applied to hydroelectric plants, we will be able to obtain better performance and production from our equipment and systems,” comments Furnas Engineering Director, Sidnei Bispo.
Ricardo Lee, Head of Modernization at Voith Hydro Latin America points out: “We are happy that we can contribute to this project with our advanced technologies and solutions. The customer will benefit from the local engineering team and factory in Brazil.”
Voith Hydro modernization projects all over Brazil
Voith Hydro has extensive experience in modernizing hydropower plants in Brazil. From Paulo Afonso II and IV, Xingó I and II, and Henry Borden, the company has steadily developed its technologies and knowledge in modernization projects that require a special approach.
Earlier this year Voith Hydro signed an agreement with a subsidiary of Eletrobras to modernize the Paulo Afonso II hydropower plant. In 2021, it already started the modernization work for Paulo Afonso IV in the same hydroelectric power complex – the fourth largest plant in terms of installed capacity in Brazil which has been in operation since 1979.
A couple of years before, the overhaul of four 355 MW power units at the Salto Santiago hydropower plant on the Iguaçu River was completed. Voith Hydro also upgraded the Chavantes and Capivara power stations and increased their installed capacity. CTG Brasil, which holds the concessions of the plants, also contracted Voith Hydro to refurbish four generating units at their Ilha Solteira and Jupiá plants.
“Modernization projects like these increase the useful life of the plants based on technological tools, better control and regulation and ensure reliability and operational safety. This increases the reliability of the National Grid, which distributes energy, avoiding downtime for repairs,” says Andreas Wellmann, President and CEO of Voith Hydro Latin America. “With the increased power and operating range of the machines, the grid will have more energy available, even during periods of drought,” he adds.
