The Consórcio Empresarial Salto Pilão operates a run-of-river hydro power plant, situated in the state of Santa Catarina in the south of Brazil, with an installed capacity of 182.3 MW. The power plant increases the share of renewable energy in the country’s power grid, which is currently highly dependent on fossil fuel-fired power plants. By replacing fossil fuels and preventing the reconstruction of fossil fuel power plants, the project annually avoids the emission of 290,976 tons of CO2-equivalents.
The run-of-river hydro power plant ponds parts of the Itajaí Açu river in a reservoir of 0.15 km2 and uses the water to produce electricity with two Francis turbines.Placed in a beneficial topographical area, there is no need for a large water reservoir to run the power plant. Thus negative impacts on the environment are avoided. There is also no need to relocate parts of the local population, which is often necessary with hydro power plants with larger reservoirs. Due to the positive environmental and social effects, local stakeholders and public entities also supported the implementation of the project.
How hydropower contributes to climate actionHydropower plants use the energy of water to generate electricity. The energy is harnessed by passing water through a turbine. Under the pressure of the water, the turbine turns and transfers this energy to a generator, which converts kinetic energy into electricity. This principle applies to all types of hydroelectric power plants: from small run-of-river power plants to pumped-storage power plants on bodies of water like lakes. In many parts of the world, electricity is still primarily generated from fossil fuels. Clean hydropower can replace some of this emission-intensive energy and thus verifiably save carbon emissions. In most hydropower projects, the electricity is fed into a regional power grid, diversifying the energy supply and improving energy security in areas affected by power shortages and blackouts. Often, these projects also create jobs for the local population. Hydropower projects thus make an important contribution to clean energy supply as well as contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Hydopower projects in the ClimatePartner portfolio are registered with international standards.
