In addition to the modernization of some turbines at the hydroelectric plant, others will receive improvements in systems

The Paulo Afonso II Hydroelectric Plant is located in the Paulo Afonso Hydroelectric Complex, in Bahia, under concession from the São Francisco Hydroelectric Company (Chesf) and has been operating since 1961. The Plant will undergo the first modernization of two of the plant's six turbines . Machines 8 and 9, of the Francis type, will be overhauled and, in addition, the six gates and their hydromechanical drive systems will be overhauled. The other turbines will receive new filters and mechanical auxiliaries.

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 Andreas Wellmann, President and CEO of Voith Hydro Latin America, stated that a modernization procedure like this is extremely important for extending the useful life of the machines, in order to avoid failures for the integrated system. “It is worth mentioning that the hydroelectric plants, in addition to guaranteeing the production of clean and renewable energy for the System, can support other clean sources such as wind and solar”, he declared.

Chesf began building the Paulo Afonso II hydroelectric plant in 1961 and completed the work six years later, in 1967. The plant has six generating units, two units with a unitary power of 70MW, one unit with a unitary capacity of 75MW and three units with a unitary power of 76MW, totaling 443MW of installed power. In June 2021, Voith Hydro also signed a contract with Companhia Hidrelétrica do São Francisco (Chesf) to modernize the Paulo Afonso IV Hydroelectric Power Plant, in the same Hydroelectric Complex.

 The Paulo Afonso hydroelectric plant is the fourth largest plant in installed capacity in Brazil and has been operating since 1979. With this modernization, the plant will have an increase of 2,5GW in installed capacity. The improvement project will be able to maximize the energy capacity of the hydroelectric plant, which will offer energy capable of satisfying a city of 170 people. With the increase in the power of the machines and the increase in the operating range, the SIN will be able to have more energy available even during periods of drought.

About Voith Hydro

Voith Hydro has extensive experience in implementing and modernizing hydropower plants in Brazil. In 2017, it carried out the modernization of four 355 MW generating units at the Salto Santiago Plant, on the Iguaçu River. In addition, it modernized the Chavantes and Capivara plants, which are located between the states of São Paulo and Paraná, on the Paranapanema River, increasing the installed capacities by 5,7 MW and 15,6 MW, which resulted in an increase in the physical guarantee average at 3,21% and 4,73%, respectively. CTG Brasil, owner of the hydroelectric power plants, also hired Voith Hydro to carry out the modernization of four generating units at the Ilha Solteira and Jupiá power plants on the Paraná River.