Small Hydroelectric Power Plants

Small Hydroelectric Power Plants (SHPs) have potential between 5 and 30 MW, and the area of ​​their reservoir is limited to 13 km². Brazil has 436 PCHs in operation, with a capacity of 4.95 GW, which account for 3.3% of the electricity matrix. In addition to these undertakings, the installation of 160 projects with a granted power of 2.1 GW (Aneel) is in progress.

In the next energy auctions, scheduled for December, 69 projects are registered with a generation potential of 0.94 GW, in the first, and 66 projects with a generation potential of 1.04 GW, in the second (EPE).

Rio Grande do Sul has a favorable relief for PCHs, with valleys that facilitate the installation of reservoirs and 25 hydrographic basins. Only part of its basins are inventoried, with a potential of 3.0 GW (SME) identified.

The State has 53 PCHs in operation, with 0.6 GW, representing 12% of the Brazilian potential. 15 projects are under construction, which will have a potential of 0.2 GW (Aneel).