Clean energy through the small Santa Carolina hydropower plantBrazil's economic and population growth requires more and more electricity. To meet this demand sustainably, the small Santa Carolina hydropower plant in the southern state of Rio Grande Do Sul, produces energy and feeds it into the national interconnected grid (SIN). With a total installed capacity of 10.56 MW, the hydropower plant contributes to environmental, social, and economic sustainability:
Without the power plant, the electricity generated here would have been produced using fossil fuels, which are associated with the release of greenhouse gases. Thus, the project saves an estimated 8,980 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year. In addition, new jobs have been created and the location also becomes more attractive due to the improved energy availability, which could lead to the establishment of new industries and job opportunities. The Santa Carolina hydropower plant uses a small reservoir with low environmental impact for energy production and no communities were relocated for 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.
