By Isabella Kaminski

Alstom has signed a deal with Brookfield Renewable Power (BRP) to supply specialised plant equipment to the Pezzi and Serra dos Cavalinhos II small hydropower plants in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. The contracts are part of BRP’s plans to install between 100 and 150 MW of small hydropower plants every year over the next five years.

For each project, Alstom will supply two Kaplan S-turbines, two generators, two speed controllers, two voltage regulators, and the assembly and commissioning supervision of this equipment. Kaplan S-turbines are specifically developed for small hydropower plants.

The 20 MW Pezzi hydropower plant will be built on the Antas River, between the municipalities of Bom Jesus and Jaquirana. Commissioning is planned to start in September 2012. The 29 MW Serra dos Cavalinhos II plant will be located in the municipalities of São Francisco de Paula and Monte Alegre dos Campos and commissioning should begin in November 2012.

Equipment for the projects is being manufactured at Alstom’s Taubaté plant. Taubaté produces turbines, generators for several applications, hydromechanical equipment and small hydroelectric plants.

Marcos Costa, Head of Power in Brazil and Latin America for Alstom, says: “Most equipment in the hydro plants owned by Brookfield Renewable Power has been supplied by Alstom. We’re determined to maintain our position as the main supplier to the company over coming years, helping to expand the installed capacity in Brazil, which should grow at least 5% a year.”

Alstom has already implemented a generation operation centre in Rio de Janeiro, which is responsible for the remote operation and maintenance of 16 small hydropower plants distributed in four states: Goiás, Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo and Rio de Janeiro, including a substation.