EDP Brasil celebrates 10 years of Peixe Angical HPP commercial operations
Hydroelectric power plant improves energy safety and boasts outstanding operational indicators
Last Monday (June 26), EDP Brasil - a company engaged in energy generation, trading, supply and solutions - celebrated 10 years since the launch of commercial operations at the Peixe Angical hydroelectric plant in the state of Tocantins.
"The plant is a success story for its trajectory, both from the construction and from the operational point of view," says Luiz Otávio Henriques, EDP Brasil Vice CEO for Generation. "Peixe Angical was built in 38 months, which back then was a record time for us, and the operational indicators attest to the excellence of the hydroelectric plant, which has become a model for other ventures," he explains.
This is EDP Brasil second largest hydroelectric plant (only Lajeado HPP, also in Tocantins, boasts greater installed capacity, amounting to 902.5 MW), and it has made major contributions to the region energy safety. Throughout its 10 years of operation, the facility has generated more than 20,000 GW.
The three turbines have an installed capacity of 498.75 MW, which is sufficient to cater to the needs of 4.5 million people - the equivalent of the metropolitan region of Brasilia, for example. The total energy amounts to 280.5 MW.
With an R$1.6 billion investment, the plant is a run-of-the-river project - a more sustainable system in which energy is generated with virtually no water storage.
The Peixe Angical HPP has implemented 30 socio-environmental programs during its construction, strengthening bonds with the community by investing in the region physical, biological and socioeconomic issues. In accordance with the best transparency practices, EDP Brasil has created the "negotiation forum", an unprecedented initiative for environmental licensing in Brazil, designed to open a dialogue channel between company, society and official authorities in family relocation processes.
In addition to complying with dozens of socio-environmental requirements, the company also strengthens its commitment to regional development by fostering volunteer work through the EDP Institute, an organization that coordinates the Group socio-environmental projects and implements several educational, cultural and sports programs.
Outstanding indicators
The plant reports outstanding operational indicators in the context of the Brazilian electric power sector, both in terms of energy generation and interruption rates. Availability rates in 2015 reached 92.3%, in line with the mean of the last 60 months, higher than the National System Operator reference value of 89.6%
Annual interruption rates are also a benchmark for the sector, closing at 1.67%. These figures reflect the plant assertive management plan, in which maintenance operations are supplemented by an ongoing effort by managers and workers alike to monitor operations in all areas, thereby streamlining the solution to any occurrences.
