Powering Brazil’s clean energy future: ANDRITZ secures major hydropower capacity expansion contracts with COPEL

The expansion will add more than 2.1 GW of new capacity to the two hydropower plants, which currently have a combined output of 2.9 GW. As a result, COPEL's total installed capacity will grow from 6.2 GW to 8.3 GW – a 34% increase that strengthens the stability and resilience of the Brazilian electric grid and supports the large-scale integration of renewable energy.

This investment is part of contracts awarded to COPEL through Brazil's 2nd Capacity Reserve Auction (LRCAP), a government program aimed at ensuring reliable power supply. It represents COPEL's largest investment in power generation in decades and marks a significant milestone for the country's energy transition.

ANDRITZ's contract scope covers the full execution and commissioning of the new generating units including turbines and generators and all related equipment. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2026, with nearly 2,000 direct jobs expected at peak activity. The units are planned to begin operation in 2030.

“This expansion will be a milestone in Brazil’s hydropower generation, a sector that has seen limited new projects in recent years,” said Dieter Hopf, CEO at ANDRITZ Hydropower Brazil. “It strengthens the Brazilian electric system at a critical moment in the country's energy transition.”

The project reinforces the long-standing partnership between COPEL and ANDRITZ and underlines ANDRITZ’s role as a key enabler of Brazil’s shift toward a cleaner, more reliable energy system.

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ANDRITZ GROUP
International technology group ANDRITZ provides advanced plants, equipment, services, and digital solutions for a wide range of industries, including pulp and paper, metals, hydropower, environmental, and others. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in Austria, the publicly listed group employs about 30,000 people at 280 locations in over 80 countries.

As a global leader in technology and innovation, ANDRITZ is committed to fostering progress that benefits customers, partners, employees, society, and the environment. The company’s growth is driven by sustainable solutions enabling the green transition, advanced digitalization for highest industrial performance, and comprehensive services that maximize the value of customers’ plants over their entire life cycle. ANDRITZ. FOR GROWTH THAT MATTERS.

ANDRITZ HYDROPOWER
ANDRITZ Hydropower is one of the world's leading suppliers of electromechanical equipment and services for hydropower stations in the dynamically growing global renewable energy market. Based on 185 years of experience and a global installed capacity of 492 gigawatts, we offer innovative solutions for new and existing hydropower stations, from small hydropower to large-scale plants. State-of-the-art digital solutions, comprehensive services for the operation and maintenance of entire hydropower plants, synchronous condensers for grid stability, and turbo generators for the thermal industry are completing the portfolio.