Omexom Brazil Upgrades Protection and Control Systems at Amador Aguiar I and II

This large-scale upgrade aims to cut downtime, improve efficiency, and boost long-term operational performance.  

This initiative stands as the largest hydroelectric modernization project in Brazil in terms of both technical scope and financial scale.

The project features a broad modernization plan for new automation and protection systems for all three generating units at each site, as well as upgrades to the spillways, auxiliary services, and substations at both plants.  

The new automation system will oversee startup and shutdown procedures, manage generating unit operations, control auxiliary systems, and automate water intake and spillway functions. The platform includes two operation servers, two history servers, 32 PLCs, 25 local HMIs, and 40 network switches, forming a highly integrated supervision and control environment designed specifically for modern hydropower operations. Additionally, the upgrades will also greatly improve the responsiveness and efficiency of the plants while giving operators more accurate and timely data.

In addition to automation, the project delivers major improvements in electrical protection for critical plant components. All six generators of approximately 80 MW each, six transformers of about 100 MVA, short transmission lines, and 138 kV transmission lines are being equipped with modern protection systems. With 50 intelligent electronic devices IEDs deployed, the upgrades ensure higher electrical safety, faster fault detection, and improved grid stability across both plants. 

One of the most transformative aspects of the modernization is the complete redesign of the plants’ instrumentation systems using IO–Link network technology, an advanced communication standard rarely used in Brazilian hydropower. 

“The innovation in this project is concentrated in the instrumentation. It represents a significant change in how we manage instrumentation across our network. It introduces automation and a new solution for a hydroelectric power plant,” said André.

The upgrade integrates more than 1,300 new instruments, including pressure, temperature, flow, and position transmitters, into a unified, intelligent network. With IO-Link masters, valves, air vents, and condensate drains, the system significantly improves data accuracy, diagnostics, and overall performance, marking a new operational paradigm for hydroelectric instrumentation. 

The project also upgrades the electrical system with 57 self-supporting columns and over 150 new control and instrumentation panels. This work lays the groundwork for improved automation and a more digital future. 

The project timeline spans four years, beginning with design phases in 2025 and followed by assembly and commissioning starting in February 2026. Modernization will proceed one generating unit per plant each year, a phased approach that allows the facilities to maintain production while upgrades are completed.  

Although the project focuses on technological modernization, sustainability remains a key consideration. The team is implementing several environmentally responsible practices, including the use of electric vehicles on-site to reduce CO₂ emissions.  

The success of this modernization project is reinforced by a long-standing partnership between Omexom Brazil and CCBE. Years of collaboration have created a strong technical dialogue that enables both teams to jointly identify modernization needs across CCBE’s hydropower portfolio.  

With this modernization project, Omexom reinforces its commitment to advancing the decarbonization of the electricity mix, leveraging technical expertise, innovation, and sustainable solutions to help shape the country’s energy future. 

Hydropower remains a cornerstone of Brazil’s energy system. As of April 2025, ANEEL reported over 210 GW of installed electricity capacity nationwide, with hydropower making up about 48.76% (103.2 GW). With a significant portion of the country’s energy mix dependent on hydroelectric production, updating old infrastructure is crucial for maintaining reliability, boosting renewable energy output, and supporting Brazil’s long-term energy security.