Developers submit 3,000 projects for Brazil power tenders

Developers have sought to register almost 3,000 projects totalling over 100GW for two supply auctions from new power plants in Brazil, according to energy planning agency EPE.

The government recieved requests for 1,676 wind, biomass, solar and small hydroelectric projects totalling 48GW for the A-4 tender and 1,092 wind, hydroelectric, natural gas, coal and biomass projects tallying 53.4GW for the A-6 tender.

Both auctions will be held in December.

EPE said it would analyze the applications before publishing a list of qualified projects around 15 days before the auctions.

A-4 will offer developers contracts of 30 years for hydroelectric projects under the quantity modality and 20 years for biomass, wind and solar plants under the availability modality. The plants are due online in 2021.

The A-6 tender will negotiate contracts of 30 years for hydroelectric projects (quantity modality), 25 years for coal, natural gas and biomass-fired projects (availability modality) and 20 years for wind farms (availability modality). The plants are due online in 2023.

WIND IN, HYDRO OUT

According to EPE, developers submited a "significant number" of plants for both auctions.

It said that wind attracted the highest interest with more than 550 projects totalling 18GW of capacity seeking to qualify.

The 118MW Telêmaco Borba dam proposed for Paraná state is the only hydroelectric plant greater than 50MW to request participation.

More information, in Portuguese, can be seen here.

REJUVENATION

The auctions come as Brazil attempts to rejuvenate a power sector battered by corruption and the country's ongoing economic crisis.

ALSO READ: Brazil publishes 10-year energy investment plan

Brazil cancelled two power auctions from renewable sources last year amid tepid investor interest.

President Michel Temer has since announced a raft of concession auctions and privatizations in a bid to jump-start growth in the infrastructure, oil and electric power sectors.