Complete usage of the Madeira’s 3,150 MW capacity 1st DC Bipole was scheduled for early 2014, with the conclusion of the Generator Station Coordinators (GSC) testings, equipments responsible for transmitting the plant’s information to Master Control. However, the high flows observed in the Madeira River basin during the first months of the year led to the elevation of the downstream level of Santo Antônio plant, leading to the shutdown of the entire plant. During this period, the generation of the Madeira Complex was used to serve the states of Acre and Rondônia through the temporary transformer 500/230 kV - 465 MVA.

The GSC tests, as well as the 1st DC Bipole system operationand back-to-back converter station with a block, were finalized after a period of high flows in Madeira River.

Special studies were conducted under the focus of protection and control, which allowed raising the power transmitted by the Bipole 1 and the back-to-back converter, keeping the systemic safety and allowing the use of 3,550 MW transmission capacity.

 

By the end of 2014, it was possible to count on thirty-two units in Santo Antônio plant and twenty units in Jirau, providing the BIPS with about 3,450 MW.

With the increasing number of generating units in Santo Antônio and Jirau and the implementation of the Generator Station Coordinators (GSC), it was necessary to evaluate the performance of installations and the need for adjustments in protection and control systems in order to explore all transmission capacity of the Bipole 1 and the back-to-back.

The entry into operation of the power flow system transmitted by both DC bipoles between Porto Velho and Araraquara required several actions of ONS in order to allow the tests required for integration of transmission facilities, making the most of the available generation in the Madeira plants.

One of the main challenges was to enable the transmission of energy from the Madeira Complex with the planned receptor system incomplete in the Southeastern region, where we can highlight the delayed start-up of 500 kV Araraquara 2 - Taubate, which could lead to restrictions on the flow of this energy. However, further actions of control and systemic protection were carried out to allow the increase of the operating capabilities of the two circuits of LT 440 kV Araraquara - Araraquara 2 and LT 500 kV Araraquara - Araraquara 2, being eliminated in 2014, constraints on the transfer of energy from the plants of Santo Antônio and Jirau.

Because of the various configurations of the DC system of Bipole 1 and the back-to-back converter, operation at high and low flows in the Madeira River and the various delays in completing the planned projects, integration and operation of this transmission system has constituted a great challenge for the operator and for all involved agents.