Power Cumulatively Transmitted by Brazil's Belo Monte UHV DC Transmission Project exceeds 160 TWh

Brazil's Belo Monte UHV DC transmission project (including Phase I and Phase II and hereinafter referred to as "Belo Monte Project"), invested, constructed and operated by State Grid Corporation of China (State Grid), has cumulatively transmitted clean hydropower of more than 160 TWh, rendering strong support to Brazil’s socio-economic development and the low-carbon transition.

Staff of State Grid Brazil Holding working on the transmission line of the Belo Monte Project Phase II.

The Belo Monte Project includes Phase I and Phase II, each with a rated transmission capacity of 4 GW under a voltage level of ± 800 kV. Phase I, 2,084 kilometers in length, was completed and put into operation in December 2017, while the 2,539 km long Phase II went online in October 2019. Ever since their operation, both Phase I and Phase II have been in safe and stable operation. So far, the power transmitted by Phase I has reached 99.5 TWh, and that of Phase II 60.5 TWh. 

The Rio converter station of Belo Monte Project Phase II.

The Belo Monte Project Phase I and Phase II transmit clean hydropower from the far-away Amazon basin in northern Brazil to the load center in the southeast with large capacity and low loss,effectively using clean hydropower in northern Brazil to meet the power demand of more than 22 million people in central cities such as Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. While ensuring quality construction and operation, the project has also brought the concept of sustainable development and the vision of “Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets” to Brazil. It has become an international project model in the promotion of green development along the Belt and Road and has won many important awards at home and abroad, including the Sixth China Grand Awards for Industry, the Best Practice Award for Social and Environmental Management in Brazil, the PMI (China) Project Management Award, and the Best Practice Award for International Energy Cooperation from the Second Belt and Road Initiative Energy Ministerial Conference.

The high-quality construction and operation of the Belo Monte project have fully demonstrated the safety, stability and reliability of the UHV DC transmission technology, showed State Grid's good international brand image, and enhanced its international competitiveness and influence. The project is a successful practice of State Grid in serving the Belt and Road Initiative and the international cooperation on industrial capacity.

Sources: Department of International Cooperation, State Grid International Development Co., Ltd. (SGID), State Grid News