Local news Brasil
30/05 2023: Synchronous Condensers for Cachimbo and Novo Progresso Substations in Pará, Brazil
ANDRITZ Hydro Brazil, a multinational company of Austrian origin and a part of the ANDRITZ group, has signed a contract with STERLITE POWER BRAZIL, a leading Indian developer of integrated power transmission infrastructure projects.
ANDRITZ will be responsible for the supply, installation, and commissioning of synchronous condensera, excitation systems, control and protection systems, step-up transformers, electrical and mechanical auxiliaries for the Cachimbo and Novo Progresso substations, located in the state of Pará, Brazil.
The construction of the Cachimbo and Novo Progresso substations with 230 kV will enable the expansion of the consumer market in the regions of Mato Grosso and Pará, providing a new Main Grid substation to serve the market.
The concession for the new substations was awarded by the National Electric Energy Agency (ANEEL) in the transmission auction on June 30, 2022. After the supply and installation of the new +45/-45 Mvar synchronous condensers by ANDRITZ, the substations will be capable of supplying or absorbing reactive power from the electrical grid, helping to stabilize the system.
"A power sector dominated by renewable resources is essential for the global transition to sustainable energy. However, the changing generation mix due to the increasing volumes of widely distributed and intermittent renewable energy generation, along with the progressive elimination of fossil fuel resources, is creating a major challenge for system operators who need to ensure stable, reliable, and secure transmission and distribution systems," explains Dieter Hopf, General Director of ANDRITZ Hydro Brazil.
"For over 120 years, ANDRITZ has been supplying various synchronous and asynchronous machines, primarily for generation purposes. Today, approximately 5,000 units are still in service worldwide, with decades of experience in power plants and system integration in the renewable energy business," adds Dieter.
The project is scheduled for completion in October 2027.
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22/03 2023: ANDRITZ Hydro Brazil celebrates the ANDRITZ GROUP's 170 years of history, innovation and passion for engineering
As part of the celebration of the 170th anniversary of the ANDRITZ Group, we invited some employees to tell a little about or why being part of this history is a source of pride!
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15/03 2023: ANDRITZ Hydro Brazil participates in a meeting promoted by the IHA
Recently, Dieter Hopf, CEO of ANDRITZ Hydro Brasil, participated in the meeting promoted by the IHA (International Hydropower Association), in Rio de Janeiro, which brought together large companies in the national hydroelectric sector and aimed to discuss initiatives that should boost hydroelectric development in the country.
Brazil has the second largest installed hydroelectric capacity in the world, and one of the proposals presented at the meeting refers to the great potential for developing medium-sized hydroelectric plants, with less complex environmental licensing and capable of boosting the segment and ensuring renewable energy for the expansion of generation in the country.
Another important point is the modernization of existing hydroelectric power plants, which could generate an increase in installed capacity in 51 plants that have been operating for over 30 years, resulting in significant energy gains.
“Brazil has a huge advantage in its energy transition. Of the more than 70 GW of hydroelectric capacity in South America, a large part is from Brazil and has been in operation for over 30 years. This represents a great opportunity for the modernization of the units, in addition to new business in this segment through new medium-sized plants. We are ready to help develop a sustainable, modern and affordable electrical system”, highlights the executive director of the IHA, Eddie Rich.
In summary, the recommendations addressed by the IHA are:
1. Use of the Hydroelectric Sustainability Standard in the development, implementation, financing and operation of hydroelectric power plants.
2. Promoting the preparation of projects for grant. Without the proper incentives, financing and guarantee of reimbursement of investment in studies, engineering companies and investor-operators do not prepare these studies and, consequently, there are no new concessions.
3. Improvement of regulation in order to adequately remunerate hydroelectric plants and reservoirs for their ancillary services, such as flexibility, dispatch and storage, which help to enable intermittent sources of energy.
4. Increase in the capacity of existing plants through modernization, with an estimated increase of 5% to 20% in installed capacity in 51 old plants.
About IHA
The International Hydropower Association (IHA) is a not-for-profit organization committed to sustainable hydropower. Our mission is to promote sustainable hydropower by building and sharing knowledge about its role in renewable energy systems, responsible drinking water management and climate change solutions. We achieve this by monitoring the hydropower sector, building an open, innovative and credible platform for knowledge and advancing strategies that strengthen sector performance.
Learn more: www.hydropower.org .
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09/03 2023: ANDRITZ Hydro Brazil invests in training field service fronts
Last Thursday (23rd), ANDRITZ Hydro Brasil promoted the first event of the CapacitA Program, created with the objective of providing the necessary training for foremen to become supervisors identified and guided by the values and principles of ANDRITZ.
The training, complementing the quality guidelines already practiced by the entire workforce worldwide, reinforces the role of leaders of pre-defined teams on the service fronts, forming a team prepared to make assertive and essential decisions to take on new projects efficiently, based on the corporate culture of the ANDRITZ Group.
The Program will last for two years and will be a key element for us to continue fulfilling our mission of understanding and meeting the needs and expectations of our customers, ensuring satisfaction, and creating an environment of fair and reliable long-term relationships.
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22/02 2023: Acre region, Brazil – Three Synchronous Condensers for more grid stability
ANDRITZ Hydro Brazil recently received an order to provide three Synchronous Condenser Systems including electrical power systems, digital control, excitation and protection system in Acre state, Brazil.
The contractor and at the same time our customer is Transmissora Acre II, part of Grupo Zopone. They are undertaking the expansion projects of the transmission grid in the northern region in Brazil.
One of the expansion projects involves the installation of one +150 / -90 Mvar Synchronous Condenser at the 230kV Tucumã Substation, near Rio Branco, the capital of Acre.
The other two Synchronous Condensers, +/- 45 Mvar each, will be installed at the 230kV Feijó Substation, located about 360 km west from Rio Branco, halfway to the Brazilian border with Peru.
The substations that will improve their technical capabilities to support the energy transition toward more renewable energy are located in the state of Acre. The project supports expansion, enhancement, and increasement of stability of the electric power transmission grid. The cities, villages, and farms within in the region demand for very long transmission lines that end up requiring more system inertia, more system strength and better reactive power flow capabilities.
We are proud to have been awarded this contract, which presents logistical challenges but is also important in providing electricity to the local population. This order is an opportunity for ANDRITZ to further strengthen its market position in the Synchronous Condenser business in Brazil and South America.
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05/12 2022: São Roque Hydroelectric Power Plant
ANDRITZ Hydro Brasil has completed, with excellence, the final supervision of the assembly and commissioning of the three generating units of the São Roque Hydroelectric Power Plant, located on the Canoas River, in the Midwest Region of the state of Santa Catarina!
The project covered Engineering, Factory and Field services, consisting of the supply of Turbines, Speed Governors, Excitation Systems, supervision of assembly and commissioning of the equipment, in addition to ANDRITZ's exclusive automation solutions for the Power Plant Supervision and Protection System. , including the substation.
With 141.9 megawatts (MW) of installed capacity, HPP São Roque belongs to Nova Engevix and represents an important resource for serving the National Interconnected System (SIN), especially for the southern region of the country.
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30/11 2022: MODERNIZATION OF HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANTS: THREE COUNTRIES, NINE PLANTS AND AN INNOVATIVE PROJECT
ANDRITZ Hydro Brasil is working in partnership with ANDRITZ Hydro Mexico and Austria, on the modernization and supply of generators for the Penitas & Humaya hydroelectric power plants, located in the state of Chiapas and Badiraguato Sinaloa, respectively.
The project is part of the first batch of hydroelectric plants to be modernized under a plan to renovate the entire hydroelectric generation park of the Comisión Federal De Eletricidad de México (CFE), and consists of the modernization of nine of the 60 plants, all built between 1960 and 1995. The list includes several of the company's largest dams.
In addition to four new complete generators for the Penitas Plant, the scope also covers the recovery and refurbishment of the frame, core and winding of a generator for Humaya, and the services of management, engineering, assembly and commissioning of the equipment. Manufacturings will be carried out at the ANDRITZ Hydro Brasil plant, located in Araraquara.
CFE supplies electricity to 46 million customers and adds one million new users each year. Its generating complex is composed of 158 generating plants of different technologies: combined cycle, thermoelectric power plants, hydroelectric power plants, coal, turbogas, internal combustion, nuclear energy (Central Nuclear Laguna Verde), geothermal, wind and solar photovoltaic energy.
In 2021, it generated 55.36% of the total clean energy that was injected into the National Electric System. Likewise, of the total energy produced by CFE in the same period, 38.23% was clean.
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16/11 2022: MEGATRENDS: ARE YOU PREPARED FOR THE FUTURE OF POWER GENERATION?
Megatrends like urbanization, climate change and digital transformation are fundamentally changing every aspect of our lives. Change can be challenging, but it also offers space for positive change and even greater opportunities for those companies, organizations and societies willing to embrace new realities.
The IEA’s “Net Zero”, A Roadmap for the Global Energy Sector, predicts that hydroelectric power generation will grow by at least 9.5% by 2025 to reach 4650 TWh, but the report also notes that hydro capacity growth during 2023 –2025 could be 50% higher per year on average if project development were accelerated. It is essential that every opportunity to develop the enormous potential of sustainable hydroelectric power is seized to secure our world for future generations. In fact, IRENA's Global Renewables Outlook estimates that an additional 850 GW of hydroelectric power is needed by 2050 to keep the world on a climate-safe path under the Paris Agreement.
In regions where energy demand will increase dramatically in the coming years, such as Asia, South America and Africa, new large power plants and a large number of small hydroelectric projects will be implemented. There is also huge potential in Europe and North America, as half of the facilities are over 40 years old and can make a more significant contribution to the energy supply in the future through modernization. Along with its eco-friendly generation characteristics, the benefits of pumped storage hydroelectric power plant to provide flexibility and cost-effective bulk storage make it an invaluable asset to the clean energy transition.
With 180 years of innovation, ANDRITZ has long been at the forefront of development, responding to megatrends with pioneering technologies and concepts and leading the transition to new and better approaches to meet society's needs. Given the profound impacts of global megatrends, ANDRITZ's hydroelectric power and innovation will also be a long-term megatrend.
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09/11 2022: AUTOMATION OF HYDROELECTRIC POWER PLANTS: MODERNIZATION OF EXCITATION AND CONTROL SYSTEMS
ANDRITZ Hydro Brasil is working with FURNAS for the modernization of the Excitation and Control Systems of the Synchronous Compensators of the Substations of Ibiúna, located in São Paulo, and Grajaú, in Rio de Janeiro.
This is an important contract for ANDRITZ as it marks its presence in the modernization of Synchronous Compensators in SIN Substations, and will include the technological update of the Excitation Systems of the 04 units of the Ibiúna Substation and the 02 units of the Grajaú Substation.
Over the last six decades, FURNAS' activities have made it a reference for other energy companies in initiatives that aim to adapt their structure to the new regulatory scenario of the Brazilian electricity industry. The company prioritizes operational efficiency, action through processes and investment sustainability, in addition to measures aimed at increasing the transparency of its management.
Currently, FURNAS' transmission system comprises 72 substations, 55 of which are owned (15 with its hydroelectric power and thermoelectric power plants) and 17 under the partnership regime, through SPEs.
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December 2021: Miranda, Brazil - Automation and modernization of the Miranda Hydroelectric Power Plant
The Brazilian ENGIE awarded ANDRITZ with the modernization of the digital supervision and control system, common systems, as well as the protection and monitoring system of the three generating units of the hydroelectric power plant of Miranda, located on the Araguarí River, in the municipality of Indianópolis (MG).
In addition to the supply of ANDRITZ's dedicated automation solutions for the hydropower market, the modernization project encompasses engineering, installation, commissioning, and integration services of the excitation systems and the turbine governors.
The success project execution between ENGIE and ANDRITZ in the modernization of HPP Itáand HPP Machadinho were decisive in winning this new contract.
The Miranda hydroelectric power plant has an accumulation reservoir of 50.61 km² and an installed capacity of 408 MW with three Francis units of 136 MW each. Its operation began in 1998 and together with the Jaguara hydroelectric power plant. it was incorporated into ENGIE's generating complex in 2017 through an auction by the Federal Government.
ENGIE Brasil is the largest private electricity producer in Brazil, with its own installed capacity of 10,791 MW in 72 plants, representing around 6% of the country's total capacity. The company has almost 90% of its installed capacity in the country from renewable sources and with low GHG emissions such as hydroelectric, wind, solar, and biomass power plants.
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November 2021: Canoas 1, Brazil – Modernization and overhaul successfully completed
ANDRITZ Hydro Brazil successfully completed the modernization and overhaul of unit #1 of the Canoas I Hydroelectric Power Plant.
The hydropower station is located on the Paranapanema River between the municipalities of Cândido Mota (SP) and Itambaracá (PR).
The scope of contract for ANDRITZ included services at the factory and on-site, consisting of the modernization and refurbishment of the unit’s distributor and Kaplan runner as well as dismantling, assembly, and commissioning of the equipment.
The current contract was a follow-up order for a service successfully performed on unit #2 of Canoas I, in 2018, where the distributor's movement systems were replaced by self-lubricating guides with top-tier modern technology.
The Kaplan runner of unit #1 of Canoas I hydropower plant has been operating since 2018 with some restrictions. The contract was challenging as we had to assess the current conditions of the runner and, through analysis of the factory, field, and engineering history, to identify and correct any limitation, in order to allow the commencement of commercial operation.
Even during a critical period of the Covid pandemic, the project followed strict measures to avoid the spread of the virus and ensure the safety of ANDRITZ and CTG employees. Furthermore, throughout the entire execution period no accident has been registered. This is a result of the strict CTG health and safety protocols in full compliance with the ANDRITZ team.
With an installed capacity of 81 MW, Canoas I was inaugurated in 1999 and is one of the most modern hydroelectric plants on the Paranapanema River. The plant’s operators are concerned with the preservation of the environment, and promotes several environmental programs aimed at the preservation of flora and fauna in the areas surrounding the power plant.
The success of this project reinforces, once again, ANDRITZ's position as a leader in technology and quality!
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November 2021: Foz do Areia, Brazil – Successful completion of modernization
ANDRITZ Hydro Brazil completed, with excellence and a high degree of customer satisfaction, the modernization and renovation of the Governador Bento Munhoz da Rocha Netto Plant (Foz do Areia), located on the Iguaçu River, in the state of Paraná.
Lasting six years, the project marked ANDRITZ's largest Francis turbine overhaul ever. The modernization covered engineering, field services, equipment disassembly, assembly, and commissioning, in addition to the supply of ANDRITZ's dedicated automation solutions for the hydropower market.
The modernization of the last unit was completed 14 days in advance of the contractual terms. During the entire period of execution, no accidents were registered. This is a result of the strict health and safety protocols of ANDRITZ and our customer COPEL.
Gov. Bento Munhoz da Rocha Netto is COPEL's largest installed power plant and has a total installed capacity of 1,676 MW, with four generating units of 419 MW each.
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July 2021: ANDRITZ Hydro Brasil moves its corporate office in São Paulo
This transition is part of the company´s modernization process as a whole and intend to meet the needs of agility, flexibility and collaboration of our current context, as well as fulfil the business evolution curve. The new corporate office, opened on 12/07, is a completely new, modern space and, like ANDRITZ solutions, redesigned for the future.
Sales, engineering, order execution for: automation, electrical power systems and pumps; as well as administrative and legal departments will be allocated to the new office, located at Alameda Tocantins, 350 - Alphaville Industrial, Barueri, in a commercial building with more than 31,000.00 m2.
The new environment was entirely designed to translate ANDRITZ's commitment to creating new perspectives for the GROUP based on innovation, collaboration and solid and lasting partnerships.
'With this change, ANDRITZ Hydro Brasil will be even better prepared to accept new challenges and contribute to future hydroelectric development in the country.’ – adds Dieter Hopf, general director of ANDRITZ Hydro in Brazil.
Today, ANDRITZ Hydro Brasil is a consolidated company responsible for basic and detailed engineering, manufacturing and installation of equipment for small, medium and large hydroelectric power plants, as well as pumping solutions for industry, irrigation and water supply. It has a manufacturing unit in Araraquara and serves, in addition to the Brazilian market, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, other ANDRITZ units in the Americas.
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June 2021: HPP Yacyretá, Brazil – Contract for 18 new excitation systems with HIPASE technology
ANDRITZ Hydro Brazil entered into a partnership with Entidad Binacional Yacyreta (EBY) to supply 18 new excitation systems with HIPASE-E technology, a dedicated automation solution from ANDRITZ, for the Yacyretá Hydroelectric Plant, located on the Paraná River, between Argentina and Paraguay.
The Yacyreta hydropower plant belongs to Entidad Binacional Yacyretá and has been in commercial operation since 1994. Nowadays, it has an installed capacity of 3,200 MW MW and is responsible to supply electricity needs of 50% residences in Argentina, not to mention industries.
The qualifying process in the binational bid was challenging and required a lot of preparation from the entire team in terms of compliance, corporate, as well as technical and economic aspects. ANDRITZ used its market expertise and submitted a customized offer. We were finally chosen to supply the complete modernization of the excitation systems (cubicles, transformers, set of auxiliary part and component) consisting of basic and detailed design, manufacturing/assembly, factory acceptance tests, transport, site installation and commissioning.
This is a very important project for ANDRITZ that not only highlights ANDRITZ competence and expertise in the automation market but also marks the beginning of a long term partnership with Entidad Binacional Yacyreta.
Technical Details:
Total output: 3,200 MW
Head: 21.3 m
Voltage: 13.2 kV
