With a length of 44,6 km and an investment exceeding R$ 1,1 billion, the Riacho Grande Project, inaugurated at the end of March in the state of São Paulo, has become part of the transmission infrastructure in one of the regions with the highest energy consumption in the country.
Although Brazil already has other underground lines in operation, the distinguishing feature of this project is its scale: it is the largest in the country in this segment. The infrastructure combines underground and overhead lines at 345 kV, in addition to the new São Caetano do Sul Substation, with an installed capacity of 800 MVA.
Developed by ISA Energia, the project was energized five months ahead of schedule. ANEEL (National Electric Energy Agency). During the construction, approximately 2.200 direct and indirect jobs were generated.
The underground line connects the city of São Paulo to the ABC region, expanding the capacity to meet demand in an area characterized by high cargo density and industrial growth.
The project also includes 9 km of overhead power lines and the expansion of existing substations, such as Miguel Reale and Sul, as well as structures like a 120-meter-high tower near the Billings Reservoir and its interconnection with other substations.
With the new configuration, energy from the Itaipu Hydroelectric Power Plant will directly supply the ABC region and part of the city of São Paulo. The interconnection aims to reduce the risk of overload and increase the reliability of the system, especially in stress scenarios such as peak consumption and extreme weather events.
Work in an urban environment
The construction of over 40 km of underground lines in a metropolitan region presented significant engineering and logistical challenges. The works were carried out with a focus on reducing the impact on traffic and the population, within a context of high urban complexity.
The São Caetano do Sul Substation, built on an area of 11.800 m², uses GIS (Gas-Insulated Switchgear) technology, a common solution in urban areas because it requires less space and produces lower noise levels. The unit serves more than 2 million people.
Another aspect of the project is the installation of three 400 MVA transformers, two in continuous operation and one as a backup. In addition, the underground cables have real-time monitoring systems focused on the operation and maintenance of the network.
Role in the electrical system
The project's commissioning comes at a time of increased energy demand and heightened pressure on the transmission system, especially in metropolitan areas.
According to the ONS (National Electric System Operator), projects of this nature contribute to increasing the operational flexibility and security of the SIN (National Interconnected System), especially in areas with high load concentration.
The Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME) emphasizes that expanding transmission is one of the key points to keep pace with the growth in consumption and enable the integration of new generation sources into the system.
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