Data insights: Brazil’s US$2bn+ electric power projects

Brazil has six electric power initiatives underway involving investments of more than US$2bn, according to the BNamericas project database.  

The list comprises hydroelectric, transmission and offshore wind undertakings. 

It should be noted that no offshore wind projects are likely to get off the drawing board before the end of the decade, even though the sector’s regulatory framework has now been approved. The first auction for the transfer of use of areas for offshore wind generation is expected to be held by the end of this year and, after that, studies must be conducted, energy sold and construction carried out.   

Projects whose purpose is not exclusively energy generation or transmission were disregarded, such as green hydrogen, datacenters and mining, which require heavy investments in electricity to be enabled. 

The following are the descriptions of the undertakings, in order of capex: 

Ilha Solteira hydro plant modernization

The project entails modernization works to the Ilha Solteira hydro plant, divided into two phases. The works are aimed at improving the safety, reliability and availability of the plant.

The plant is located on the Paraná river, between the municipalities of Ilha Solteira and Selvíria in São Paulo state.

Property type: Private

Development type: Greenfield/New

Capex: US$7.05bn (estimated)

Lifespan: 30 years

Project type and capacity: Hydro dam 3,440MW

Río Madeira hydro plant

The project entails the construction of a hydroelectric plant as part of a binational project between Bolivia and Brazil to exploit the hydroelectric potential of the shared section of the Madeira and Mamoré rivers.

The initiative will be located on the binational section of the rivers between Villa Bella and Manoa (Abuna in Brazil), and between Guayaramerín and Villa Bella, respectively.

Property type: Public

Capex: US$5.00bn

Project type and capacity: Hydro dam 3,000MW

Lot 1: Maranhão–Tocantins–Goiás Transmission Line

The project involves construction of transmission lines in the states of Maranhão, Tocantins and Goiás, which will be connected to the national power grid.

The undertaking forms part of the transmission program of Brazil's electricity power regulator Aneel.

The lot includes:

• Graça Aranha–Silvânia line;

• President Dutra–Graça Aranha line C3, CS;

• Sections between the Graça Aranha substation and Presidente Dutra–Teresina 2 C1 line;

• Sections between the Graça Aranha substation and the 500kV Presidente Dutra–Teresina 2 C2 line;

• The Graça Aranha substation and synchronous compensation;

• The Silvânia substation and synchronous compensation.

The implementation period is estimated at 72 months.

Property type: Public

Development type: Greenfield/New

Capex: US$3.73bn

Project type and capacity: 1,468km 500kV transmission lines, 500kV substations 

Ventos Potiguar offshore wind complex

The project entails the construction of five wind farms including 207 wind turbines of 12MW each, to be located between the cities of Pedra Grande and São Bento do Norte, 8km from the coast in Rio Grande do Norte state.

The complex will generate 5,000 jobs.

Property type: Private

Development type: Greenfield/New

Capex: US$3.429bn

Project type and capacity: Offshore wind 2,484MW

Engenheiro Souza Dias (Jupía) hydro plant modernization

The project involves modernization works on the Engenheiro Souza Dias hydro plant, also known as Jupía, divided into three phases. Phases I and II consist of the modernization of six generating units, while phase III entails modernizing three generating units. 

The works are aimed at improving the safety, reliability and availability of the plant.

The project is located on the Paraná river, between the cities of Andradina and Castilho in São Paulo state, and Três Lagoas in Mato Grosso do Sul state.

Property type: Private

Development type: Brownfield/Expansion/Revamp

Capex: US$3.18bn (estimated)

Lifespan: 30 years

Project type and capacity: Hydro dam 1,551MW

Camocim offshore wind farm

The project entails the construction of an offshore wind farm comprising 100 wind turbines of 12MW distributed over 600km2 in the coastal zone of Camocim municipality, Ceará state, Brazil.

Property type: Private

Development type: Greenfield/New

Capex: US$2.18bn

Project type and capacity: Offshore wind 1,200MW