- This project was delivered one year ahead of the deadline established by the National Electric Power Agency and will add a RAP of USD 9,3 million to the company in the 2022-2023 period.
ISA CTEEP, the leader in the country’s electric power transmission sector, has just energized the Biguaçu Electric Interconnection (SC), one year ahead of the deadline established by the National Electric Power Agency (ANEEL). The project, the only one of its kind in Brazil to include transmission lines with overhead, submarine and underground sections, will ensure greater safety and reliability in the supply of electric power to the metropolitan region of Florianópolis.
With the works starting in the first half of 2021, the project included the construction of 57 km of transmission lines and a new substation in Ratones, in addition to the expansion of the Biguaçu substation, located in the municipality of the same name.
As a result, Florianópolis now has three transmission systems directly interconnected to the basic network, mitigating the risk of a new local blackout, as happened in 2003, which lasted 55 consecutive hours. The city now follows the contingency criteria of Brazilian capitals, which must be supplied by two or more transmission systems. Until now, the municipality had only one transmission system connected to the basic network.
The project will also increase the supply and improve the reliability of the energy supply for the entire Greater Florianópolis region. In addition, it will provide greater voltage stability, operational safety and allow for the growth of renewable energy generation sources. This enhances local economic, social and technological development, as it expands the capacity to support the increased loads resulting from the expansion of economic activities.
“The construction of this project involved several challenges, which were overcome with the application of innovative engineering solutions. This project, with the characteristics of overhead, submarine and underground lines, is unprecedented in the country. Therefore, it represents an advance in knowledge not only for us, but for the entire electricity sector. We are very proud to announce the delivery of one of the most important projects for Santa Catarina, benefiting close to 508 thousand inhabitants”, stated Dayron Urrego, Executive Project Director for ISA CTEEP.
The project was awarded in lot 01 of the transmission tender held in June 2018, had an investment of over USD 84 million and will bring the company an additional Annual Allowed Revenue (RAP) of USD 9,3 million in the 2022 -2023 cycle. The Definitive Release Term (TLD), issued by the National System Operator (ONS), is retroactive to August 28.
Innovation and socio-environmental responsibility
Combining innovation with socio-environmental responsibility was one of the main challenges of the “Biguaçu Electric Interconnection” project, which began after obtaining the Environmental License for Installation issued by the Santa Catarina Environmental Institute (IMA) in March 2021.
In the installation of the submarine section, the cables were laid in trenches made in the seabed, with a depth of one meter, and buried with the help of a water jet device, a technique that minimizes the disturbance and dispersion of sediments on the seabed. The low speed of the locomotive used to launch the armored and insulated cables was another technique applied for the protection and preservation of marine flora and fauna.
The project also used drones to drop cables on the environmentally sensitive sections of the airlines, and works are being carried out for the benefit of the M’Biguaçu indigenous territory in the vicinity of the project, such as the construction of the Guarani Memory House and the implementation of lodgings for visitors and leaders.
During the course of the project, 630 jobs were created, most of which were filled by local labor.
