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Energy Company That Has Been Seeking New Sources For Years To Compensate For The Low Production Of The Hydropower Plant Invests In Solar Park
The concessionaire Norte Energia, which owns the Belo Monte dam, plans to establish a solar park within the area of the hydroelectric plant itself, located on the Xingu River in the Altamira region (Pará). The company’s intention with the construction of the solar park is to increase energy generation by seeking alternative sources.
According to the original text by André Borges for Estadão, a request from Norte Energia has already been sent to the National Electric Energy Agency (Aneel) regarding the solar park project, a sector that is receiving innovations in Brazil. According to the request, the photovoltaic plant would be built in an area close to the most important dam of the hydroelectric plant, which corresponds exactly to the village that was planned to accommodate thousands of workers while the plant was under construction.
Although the solar park project is still in the study and analysis stage, the goal is for the plant to have the capacity to reach 137.48 megawatts (MW), enough energy to comfortably supply around 300,000 people.
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In a report given to Estadão, the concessionaire confirmed the information: “Norte Energia is studying the possibility of installing a solar plant in the area used by the Residential Village at the time of construction. For this reason, it requested Aneel for the relevant grant.”
New Projects And Sources
Norte Energia had already made other attempts at complementary projects in order to expand energy production in the Belo Monte region, like the solar park. In 2019, the company approached the regulatory agency and requested authorization to build thermal plants, which are more expensive and harmful to the environment – a factor that concerns companies that are already investing in better environmental conditions – around the hydroelectric plant. At that time, Norte Energia even requested to change its bylaws so that it would no longer be a company focused exclusively on one venture and could invest directly or in partnership with other companies, such as a wholly-owned subsidiary. Regarding the thermal plant construction project, the concessionaire states that there is no concrete forecast for it.
Energy Generation Below Recommended Levels
The intentions to increase Belo Monte’s energy production through the creation of a solar park are intrinsically related to the low energy generation at the hydropower plant. This condition has existed since the planning of the plant, which led several engineers to doubt the financial viability of the plant.
In order to facilitate the auction of the hydropower plant in 2010, the government called on Eletrobras, a state-owned company that holds 49.98% of the concessionaire. Thus, 20% of the plant is owned by the pension funds Petros (from Petrobras) and Funcef (from Caixa). The other owners are the companies Cemig, JMalucelli, Light, Neoenergia, Sinobras, and Vale. Norte Energia, in turn, will be able to operate the hydropower plant for a period of 35 years.
12 years after the auction and over 40 billion reais in investments, Norte Energia continues to seek new sources of revenue, as Belo Monte must be shut down for several months every year due to the drop in the volume of the Xingu River during dry seasons.
The dry period of the Xingu significantly affects the volume of energy generated at the plant. Considering that Itaipu has 14,000 MW but is binational, Belo Monte, with a capacity of 11,233 MW, holds the title of Brazil’s largest hydropower plant. However, it effectively produces only an annual average of 4,571 MW.
At the beginning of 2022, during the flood period of the Xingu, the plant’s turbines operated intensely and delivered over 9,000 megawatts monthly. However, this production decreases to 300 MW in months like August, September, and October. Thus, the main powerhouse of Belo Monte is shut down to prevent its turbines from getting damaged.
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