One of the largest hydroelectric power plants in the country is about to go into operation: With 95% of its works concluded, UHE São Roque, in Santa Catarina, will have the capacity to supply 4 municipalities in the state.
São Roque Energética announced, this Monday (25), that one of the largest hydroelectric plants in Santa Catarina is in its final construction phase. The unit, which already has 95% of its works completed, is named UHE São Roque, in the Southern Plateau of the State and is only awaiting authorization from the Institute of the Environment of Santa Catarina (IMA) to start filling the water tank. According to the agency, the estimate is that this will occur later this week. Therefore, the estimate is to close the reservoir to start filling it in the next few days, making it possible for São Roque to start generating and sending energy to the ONS by the end of next month.
Santa Catarina hydroelectric plant is one of the largest in Brazil
The deadline was brought forward even at the request of the National Electric Energy Agency (Aneel) and due to the recent energy crisis that Brazil faced. When completed, the flow of the hydroelectric plant will be approximately 33 m³/s.
The unit will be able to produce 141,9 MW, which is equivalent to the consumption of homes in the four largest cities in Santa Catarina: Florianópolis, Chapecó, Joinville and Blumenau. The venture is considered the largest hydroelectric plant under construction not only in the state but in the whole country, according to São Roque Energética, responsible for UHE São Roque.
The largest of the hydroelectric plants will be located on the Canoas River, between the municipalities of São José do Cerrito and Vargem. However, the reservoir also covers Brunópolis, Frei Rogério and Curitibanos, while the power transmission line, which will distribute the renewable energy generated by the three turbines to the connection with the SIN, passes through Abdon Batista.
The largest hydroelectric power plant in the country received BRL 1,1 billion in investments
One of the great differentials of the largest hydroelectric plant in SC is the regularization reservoir, which means that it will be possible to store water for the dry season, similar to what happens in large enterprises in other states.
The pace of works was reduced in 2016, when the plant in Santa Catarina it already had 80% of its structure completed. Only conservation and maintenance activities of the facilities were maintained. The total amount invested is R$ 1,1 billion and the works were resumed in July last year.
According to the project coordinator for Usina São Roque, Ênio Schneider, the new value for completing the remaining 5% of the work in Santa Catarina is between R$350 and R$400 million. This amount is allocated to the set of activities, both the works on the hydroelectric plant and the transmission line, as well as socio-environmental issues, including compensation for properties. It is worth mentioning that the state participates in the financing package through the Regional Development Bank of the Extreme South (BRDE), with R$ 140 million.
MME recognizes the importance of the SC hydroelectric plant
In an e-mail forwarded by the MME to the IMA, the unit was reinforced as essential and a major highlight because it is a headwater plant, making it possible for the regularization of all existing plants downstream and, bearing in mind that it will be an accumulation reservoir, it will play an essential role in water storage.
This is because in addition to the 142 MW generated by one of the largest plants in the country, the structure has a reservoir that will expand generation in other plants below it. as is the case of the Garibaldi plants, located in Abdon Batista and Campos Novos, between the municipalities of Celso Ramos and Campos Novos.
