Day 2
Capivari de Baixo - Santa Catarina

We had our first visit to Tractebel Energia, a GDE SVEZ company. We were unable to visit the coal powered plant because they were having a complete overhaul of the facility. First we had a cheap and filling lunch on-site, then we visited the technology park, received a brief overview of the wind and solar R&D projects and had a tour of the control room. The tech park was created to give back to the community; It features models of turbines, a transformer, heat exchanger, and other pieces of technology related to energy generation. Our tour guide mentioned that local schools use the area for educational field trips.

The solar project has been operating for two years and generates 3 megawatts of photovoltaic cells. They use two thin-film technologies, one of which is crystalline Silicon. This particular thin-film performs better 90 percent of the year, except in the summer season. There is also a wind turbine that produces 3.3 megawatts of power; another is to be added soon. Most of its parts were made in Brazil, and it operates when wind speeds are between 10 and 75 kilometers per hour. The small installations were built in order for the company to gain understanding for how to use, produce power, and run larger solar and wind plants. One of the workers stated that experience is the biggest obstacle to an efficient solar plant; knowing how to handle solar panels so as not to damage the cells or break the glass, etc. Another threat to solar power is that the prices are not competitive, because of the lack of government support. Currently solar power and other sources contribute less than one percent to total power in Brazil; Wind power contributes about 2 percent.

Although we could not visit the coal plant, we were able to visit the control room for the plant. It controls a pulverized coal plant with 7 boilers. The control room was started in 1979 and today is run by 6 people at all times, four in the control room and two securing the area outside, checking the boilers outside, etc. This plant contributes seven percent of the total electrical power consumption in Brazil. Also, we had the pleasure of meeting Vilmar a lovely gentleman who knows everything there is to know about running the control room. We helped him fulfill his dream of describing the details of his job in English. Then back on the bus to Osorio!