ANEEL releases 7 solar plants for testing and operation in two weeks

In less than two weeks, the ANEEL (National Electric Energy Agency) released around 250 MW of installed solar energy capacity in the states of Bahia and Minas Gerais. In total, there were four authorizations for operation and three for the start of tests between August 31st and September 11th.

During this period, the Agency gave a favorable opinion for the operation of three solar plants in Jaíba (MG) and another in the municipality of Oliveira dos Brejinhos (BA). The new projects total 93,8 MW of installed photovoltaic capacity. The company also released 47,3 MW of solar energy for testing in Juazeiro (BA) and 108,8 MW in two more solar plants in the city of Oliveira dos Brejinhos (BA). The order, with the releases for the start of the tests, was published in the Official Gazette of the Union this Monday (13).

Solar plants released for operation:

• Jaíba 3 (33 MW), Jaíba 4 (33 MW) and Jaíba 9 (22,5 MW), totaling 88,5 MW of installed capacity, in Jaíba (MG).
•  Sol do Sertão VIII (5,3 MW), in the municipality of Oliveira dos Brejinhos (BA).

Solar plants released for testing:

• Juazeiro Solar V, in Juazeiro (BA), with an installed capacity of 47,3 MW.
• Terra do Sol VII and Sol do Sertão XII, totaling another 108,8 MW of installed capacity, in Oliveira dos Brejinhos (BA).

Transmission lines

Last Saturday (11), the ANEEL, MME (Ministry of Mines and Energy) and the TAESA (Transmissora Aliança de Energia Elétrica) inaugurated a new power transmission line in the municipality of Janaúba (MG), with the aim of reinforcing the transportation of energy from the Northeast to the Southeast and Central-West of the country. “This project will enable the increase in the flow of energy exchange between the Northeast and Southeast regions by around 1,6 MW”, explained the general director of ANEEL, André Pepitone, during the inauguration event of the new infrastructure.

According to him, the work is essential for Brazil to face the most severe water shortage in the last 91 years. “It [new transmission line] allows us to bring energy to the Southeast region, precisely where the reservoirs of hydroelectric plants are being punished by the longest period of drought”, he commented.

The Agency's executive also said that new transmission lines are expected to enter commercial operation in the country by the end of the year, in the states of Minas Gerais, Bahia, Maranhão, Piauí, Tocantins and Pará. "We have scheduled the entry into operation of two new transmission lines for the coming months, which will further increase the capacity to transport clean and renewable energy from the Northeast region to the Southeast region," he added.

Two sections make up the transmission line: the first starting from LT Pirapora 2 (MG) to LT Janaúba 3 (MG), 238 kilometers (km) long; and the second leaving from Janaúba 3 (MG) to LT Bom Jesus da Lapa II (BA), with 304 km. The project was built with investments of R$1 billion from TAESA, the company that won the bidding process.