Belo Monte

Belo Monte hydro plant capacity at 3.2 GW after 11th turbine brought online

Norte Energia announces it has brought the 11th turbine-generator unit online at its 11.2-GW Belo Monte hydro plant, bringing total operating capacity to 3.2 GW.
Belo Monte hydro plant capacity at 3.2 GW after 11th turbine brought online

Norte Energia announces it has brought the 11th turbine-generator unit online at its 11.2-GW Belo Monte hydro plant, bringing total operating capacity to 3.2 GW.

This 611-MW unit is one of 18 Francis turbine-generator units to be installed in one powerhouse. A second powerhouse at the site (called Pimental) will have a total capacity of 233 MW.

Andritz, Alstom and Voith Hydro have all received contracts to supply turbines for Belo Monte, with Impsa under contract to provide the generating units.

Belo Monte is on the Xingu River in the northern state of Para and began supplying electricity to the grid in April 2016.

Belo Monte is expected to become fully operational in January 2019, according to BNamericas. Construction work began in 2011.

It is not clear how the recent suspension of the operating license for the Belo Monte project will affect progress on the project or the planned completion date.

The Norte Energia consortium includes Eletrobras and its subsidiaries Eletronorte and Chesf. Other investors are Neoenergia, Petros, Funcef, Light, J Malucelli Energia, Vale and Sinobras.

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