In a major move to strengthen Brazil’s renewable energy infrastructure, ANDRITZ has secured a contract from AXIA Energia to modernize the Itumbiara hydropower plant—one of the largest in the country.
🌍 A Major Hydropower Asset
The Itumbiara plant, located between Goiás and Minas Gerais, has been in operation since 1980 and has a total installed capacity of 2,082 MW.
After more than four decades of continuous operation, the facility now requires advanced upgrades to meet modern efficiency, safety, and digital standards.
⚙️ What the Modernization Includes
The project focuses on a comprehensive automation and system upgrade, including:
- Renewal of protection, control, and supervision systems
- Upgrading voltage and speed governors
- Replacement of key mechanical components
- Integration of advanced digital monitoring and control systems
These upgrades are essential to address aging infrastructure and technological obsolescence.
💡 Smart Technology at the Core
A key highlight of the project is the use of ANDRITZ’s HIPASE automation platform, which will:
- Improve plant-wide monitoring and control
- Enhance cybersecurity and system reliability
- Optimize functions like generator excitation, turbine control, and synchronization
This digital transformation ensures the plant operates with greater precision and stability.
🚀 Key Benefits
The modernization will deliver multiple improvements:
- Higher operational reliability
- Improved safety standards
- Enhanced efficiency and performance
- Extended lifespan of the plant
It also strengthens the plant’s role in supporting Brazil’s growing renewable energy needs.
🌱 Supporting a Sustainable Energy Future
Hydropower remains a critical part of Brazil’s energy mix, and upgrading existing plants is often more efficient than building new ones.
👉 This project shows how modernization and digitalization can extend the life of renewable assets while improving sustainability.
📌 The Bigger Picture
As global energy systems evolve, aging infrastructure must adapt.
👉 Projects like this highlight a key trend:
Upgrading existing power plants with smart technologies is essential for a reliable and sustainable energy future.
