AXIA Energia has completed the transfer of operational control of the Teles Pires and Colíder hydroelectric plants from Brasília to its generation operations centre in Tucuruí, Pará.
The move brings control of seven plants together at the centre: Tucuruí, Teles Pires, Colíder, Balbina, Samuel, Coaracy Nunes and Curuá-Una. AXIA said the centralisation is intended to standardise procedures and improve response times during contingencies.
“The concentration of operations for the seven power plants in Tucuruí is a strategic decision for AXIA Energia in this region. We now have a dedicated center to manage this complex, with common procedures and a focus on optimizing operations. Our goal is to provide faster responses and more consistent operational management,” said Antonio Pardauil, president of AXIA Energia in the Northern region.
Operators at Tucuruí can remotely control generation equipment and spillways, including at Teles Pires on the border between Mato Grosso and Pará.
“From Tucuruí, we supervise AXIA’s power plants in the Northern region in real time and remotely execute the main operational commands. We start and stop generating units, adjust power, and continuously monitor hydrological conditions. Even from kilometers away, the operator needs to maintain a complete view of the plant’s conditions to make decisions and execute each command safely and responsibly,” explained Jureny Costa, coordinator of the Operations Center in Tucuruí.
The centre follows a daily schedule established by Brazil’s National Electric System Operator (ONS), based on plant availability. ONS can request changes throughout the day in response to system requirements. The centre is responsible for making those adjustments and reporting incidents that could affect projected generation.
Hydropower output can also be adjusted in response to fluctuations in wind and solar generation, subject to equipment availability, hydrological conditions and constraints at each plant.
The Tucuruí centre operates continuously, with 17 professionals working across three daily shifts. Alongside generation scheduling, the team monitors reservoir conditions and environmental restrictions, including downstream river conditions and fish protection at Tucuruí, and turtle-related restrictions at Balbina.
“Each of these plants has its own history and particularities, but there are common challenges for those operating in the Amazon. Bringing their command together in Tucuruí unites operational capacity and knowledge of the region. We want the experience accumulated in each facility to help make better decisions for the whole operation,” Pardauil emphasised.
