Brazil's electricity regulatory agency ANEEL has authorized the start of commercial operation for the 10th hydro turbine at the 3,150-MW Santo Antonio hydroelectric plant.
The Santo Antonio complex -- not to be confused with a smaller 372 MW Brazilian hydropower project of the same name -- is located on the Medeira River in the Amazon basin. The plant is part of the 3,750-MW Jirau project, which received an operating license from Brazil's Institute of the Environment and Natural Resources (IBAMA) in October 2012.
Santo Antonio's newest turbine unit adds 69.6 MW to the plant's existing 713.5 MW of overall capacity. The turbine is the second in Santo Antonio's Power House II, which is located on the left bank of the Madeira River.
According to operator Santo Antonio Energia, another 17 turbines will enter commercial operation in 2013, totaling 27 generating units in production.
