Voltalia advances construction of hybrid plant in Brazil

French renewable power plants operator Voltalia SA (EPA:VLTS) has completed the first phase of construction works at the Oiapoque hybrid power plant in Brazil.

Voltalia won the Oiapoque tender, organised by Companhia de Eletricidade do Amapa (CEA), in the fourth quarter of 2014. It then stood out as the only competitor that offered a hydro/thermal mix for power supply. The hydroelectric plant will be given priority to generate power, while the thermal plant will ensure production at peak times, during the dry season and maintenance shutdowns.

Under the 15-year contract, Voltalia will supply power round the clock with a contractual maximum of 9 MW at peak periods, the company said in a news release on Tuesday.

Oiapoque, a city of 23,000 located in Amazonia, close to the border with French Guiana, is not connected to the national grid and so far it relied mostly on diesel generators for power.

Voltalia will help cut greenhouse emissions by 85% replacing diesel with a much cleaner combination of hydro and thermal power. The company will operate a 7.5 MW hydro power plant and a 12 MW thermal plant.

The thermal will be commissioned in April 2016 at the latest while construction of the hydro power plant will start once all the technical
studies are completed. Commissioning is expected in 2021 at the latest.

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