Retiro Baixo Plant


The Retiro Baixo Hydroelectric Power Plant is located on the Paraopeba River, in the São Francisco River basin, between the mining towns of Curvelo and Pompeu. The project is an integral part of the Growth Acceleration Program (PAC), with an installed capacity of 82 MW, enough to supply 200 thousand people. Operating since March 2010, the plant was built through the Specific Purpose Company (SPE) Retiro Baixo Energética S/A, whose main shareholder is Eletrobras FURNAS (49%). The other investors are Orteng (25.5%), Logos Engenharia (15.5%) and Arcadis (10%). Construction created almost two thousand direct and indirect jobs and approximately 30 social and environmental programs were developed to mitigate the effects on the local ecosystem and population.


Technical Data


Dam

  • Type: soil/riprap
  • Maximum height: 45 m
  • Ridge height: 619 m
  • Total ridge length: 1,351.67 m
  • Length of earth dam: 910.67 m
  • Length of riprap dam: 370.7 m
  • Width of spillway crest: 46.4 m
  • Length of water intake crest: 23.9 m


Reservoir

  • Flooded area: 22.58 km²
  • Maximum flood height: 616 m
  • Usable volume: 241,590 m³
  • Reservoir lifespan: 47 years
  • Reservoir length: 37,600 m
  • Average reservoir width: 706 m
  • Average reservoir depth: 22 m
  • Maximum reservoir depth: 45 m


Powerhouse

  • Type: standard
  • Generator units: 2
  • Width: 38.26 m
  • Total Length: 65.61 m


Water Intake

  • Type: standard
  • Floor elevation: 600 m
  • Height: 27 m
  • Length: 27.35 m


Turbines

  • Type: Kaplan
  • Generator units: 2
  • Rated Capacity by unit: 42.35 MW
  • Rated Flow by unit: 128.18 m³/s
  • Average reservoir width: 706 m
  • Synchronized rotation: 180 RPM
  • Maximum Yield: 94.53%