Rio Grande do Sul will have reinforcement of the energy transmission system in 2023

An infrastructure bottleneck that has hindered many energy projects in Rio Grande do Sul since the second half of the last decade is about to be completely resolved. A set of transmission works in the State whose right to implement was won by Eletrosul in 2014, but which due to financial difficulties of the state-owned company did not go ahead and had to be re-bid, will be completed during 2023.

The complexes were auctioned again in a contest promoted by the National Electric Energy Agency (Aneel) in 2018, divided into four lots (10, 11, 12 and 13). On the occasion, other undertakings were inserted, in addition to those previously linked to Eletrosul, forming lot 14, which includes structures to connect the transmission network from Rio Grande do Sul to Santa Catarina. All these initiatives comprise 25 new transmission lines, with a total length of around 2,900 kilometers, the installation of ten substations and the expansion of 13 units of this nature.

The total investment in these actions, according to data from the State Secretariat for the Environment and Infrastructure (Sema), is currently estimated at approximately R$ 4.8 billion. The projects are being developed in several regions of Rio Grande do Sul, such as the West Frontier, Half South, Porto Alegre Metropolitan Region, North Coast and the border with Santa Catarina.

The Chimarrão Consortium (consisting of CYMI Construções e Participações and Brasil Energia Fundo de Investimento em Participações Multiestratégia) won lot 10 and all the works demanded were delivered last year, informs the Secretary for the Environment and Infrastructure, Marjorie Kauffmann. Lot 11, under the responsibility of the CPFL group, closed 2022 with 96% of the work completed. This project is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2023.

In turn, the forecast made for lot 12, by the company Taesa, which owns 90% of the advanced works, is for completion in the first half. Lot 13, of Pampa Transmissão de Energia (a company linked to the CYMI group), with 88% of the works carried out, should also be ready in this period. Finally, lot 14, under the management of Neoenergia and which was not initially part of Eletrosul’s projects, has progressed to 68% of the works and should be fully operational in 2024. The secretary details that this undertaking began after the others, having reformulated its environmental project.

In addition to these complexes auctioned in 2018, Marjorie recalls that in 2019 and 2020 there were also energy transmission competitions that included lines and substations to be built on Rio Grande do Sul soil. In the 02/2019 auction, Isa CTEEP was the winner of lot 1, while in the 01/2020 auction the company MEZ Energia won the dispute for lots 4 and 5 and CPFL for 6. According to the secretary, all these lots of works have Delivery forecast until 2024 and mean another contribution of around R$ 1.7 billion in energy transmission infrastructure in the State.

The entry into operation of all these undertakings will leave in the past the problem created with the delay in energy planning in Rio Grande do Sul due to the need to rebid Eletrosul’s projects and their consequent postponement of completion. The State faced restrictions to expand its local energy generation capacity, due to limitations in its transmission system to dispose of this production.

The Secretary for the Environment and Infrastructure points out that this scenario has been overcome. “Today, we place ourselves in the market as a state ready to receive new generation projects, whether wind, solar or other sources”, says Marjorie. She stresses that Rio Grande do Sul is back on the radar of companies that invest in energy production, as it has an established transmission network.

Green Hydrogen

Still in the area of ​​energy, the government of Rio Grande do Sul scheduled for February 16 the release of the study contracted with the consulting firm McKinsey & Company to map the potential for production and consumption of green hydrogen in Rio Grande do Sul. In principle, the event will take place at Instituto Ling, in Porto Alegre. The Secretary for the Environment and Infrastructure, Marjorie Kauffmann, argues that the work will serve to place the State as an option for countries that want to invest in this renewable matrix.

Transmission works foreseen in the 2018 auction for RS:

(*SE – Power Substation, LT – Transmission Line)

Auction 04/2018 – Lot 10

Winner: Chimarrão Consortium

Planned works: SE 525/230 kV Guaíba 3, SE 525/230 kV Candiota 2, LT Guaíba 2 – Guaíba 3, LT Guaíba 3 – Gravataí, LT Santa Vitória do Palmar 2 – Marmeleiro, LT Povo Novo – Guaíba 3, Marmeleiro 2 – Povo Novo , LT Nova Santa Rita – Guaíba 3, LT Candiota 2 – Guaíba 3 and Section of LT between SE Guaíba3 and LT Povo Novo – Nova Santa Rita

Line extension: 1,193 kilometers

Investment: BRL 1.922 billion

Auction 04/2018 – Lot 11

Winner: CPFL

Planned works: SE Osório3, SE Vila Maria, SE Porto Alegre 1, Section of LT 230 kV Osório 3 – Osório 2 and Osório 2 – Lagoa dos Barros, LT Osório 3 – Gravataí 3, LT Porto Alegre 8 – Porto Alegre 1 (Underground), LT Porto Alegre 12 (Jardim Botânico – Porto Alegre 1 – underground), Section of LT between SE Vila Maria and LT Passo Fundo – Nova Prata 2.

Line extension: 85.4 kilometers

Investment: BRL 376 million

Auction 04/2018 – Lot 12

Winner: Taesa

Planned works: SE Livramento 3 – with Synchronous Compensation, SE Maçambará 3, LT 230kV Maçambará/Santo Ângelo Switching, LT 230 kV CS Livramento 3 – Alegrete 2, line input – SE Alegrete 2, LT 230 kV CS Livramento 3 – Santa Maria 3, entrance line – SE Santa Maria 3, LT 230 CS Livramento 3 – Cerro Chato, line entry – SE Cerro Chato, line entry – SE Livramento 2, LT 230 kV Livramento 3 – Maçambará 3

Line extension: 589 kilometers

Investment: BRL 610 million

Auction 04/2018 – Lot 13

Winner: Pampa Energy Transmission SA (CYMI)

Planned works: SE Capivari do Sul (525/230 Kv), LT Capivari do Sul – Gravataí, line entry – SE Gravataí, LT Capivari do Sul – Guaíba 3, line entry – SE Guaíba 3, LT Capivari do Sul – Viamão 3, entry line – SE Viamão 3

Line extension: 316 kilometers

Investment: BRL 749 million

Auction 04/2018 – Lot 14

Winner: Neoenergy

Planned works: SE 525 kV Marmeleiro 2 – Synchronous Compensation, SE 230 kV Livramento 3 – Synchronous Compensation, LT 525kV Povo Novo – Guaíba 3, line input – SE Povo Novo, line input – SE Guaíba 3, TL 525 kV Capivari do Sul – Siderópolis 2, line entry – SE Capivari do Sul, line entry – SE Siderópolis 2, LT 230 kV Siderópolis 2 – Forquilhinha, line entry – SE Forquilhinha, line entry – SE Siderópolis 2, LT 230 kV Livramento 3 – Santa Maria 3, line entry – SE Santa Maria 3.

Line extension: 738.5 kilometers

Investment: BRL 1.146 billion

Source: Sema.