Simplício Hydroelectric Complex

The Simplício Hydroelectric Complex is located on the Paraíba do Sul river on the border of Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais states in Brazil. Supported by the Anta Dam, it transfers water through a 26 km circuit to a downstream power plant. After years of delay and a cost of US$2 billion, the power complex became operational in June 2013.

Background
Construction on the complex began in January 2007 after the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA) issued an installation permit. One goal of the project is to reduce environmental impacts created by large reservoirs. The complex's five reservoirs will have a surface area of 15.36 km2. On August 5, 2009, the river was diverted through the Anta Dam's spillway. The rate progress is such that the completion of construction is on schedule for commissioning in 2013. The Anta Dam began to impound its reservoir in late February 2013. All three generators went into operation by early June 2013. The project was completed almost three years behind schedule. Delays were attributed to increased costs, lengthy permit approvals and a court decision which delayed the Anta Reservoir from being filled.

Operation
Water from the Paraíba do Sul is impounded at the 29.5 m high and 260 m long roller-compacted concrete Anta Dam before being diverting into a series of eight water channels, four water tunnels and five reservoirs totaling 26 km in length. At the end of the circuit, the water is fed to a power station containing 3 x 101.3 MW Francis turbines. The Anta Dam itself supports a 28.8 MW power station with 2 x 14.4 MWKaplan turbine-powered generators.

The water diverted by the dam first enters channel C1 which is 1.9 km long, 28 m wide and 8 m deep. After C1, the water moves into the 1458 m long tunnel T1 before entering the 1 km long channel C2. After C2 and the use of a dike, the water forms the Tocaia reservoir before entering channel C3 which is 565 m long. From C3, water is led into tunnel T2 and then to the 85 m long channel C4 before reaching tunnel T2A. Water from T2A enters a valley and with the assistance of two dikes, creates Louriçal reservoir. From the reservoir, water enters channel C5 which directs it to the third Calçado reservoir which is partially created by the project's largest dike of 75 m in height and 400 m in length. The Calçado reservoir uses an outlet works to remove any excess water from the reservoir and help maintain appropriate levels.

Water from the reservoir then moves into the 73 m long channel C6 which feeds the project's longest tunnel, T3, at 6.03 km in length. From T3, water moves into the Antonina reservoir before reaching the 203 m long channel C7 and then into the Peixe reservoir which is created with the assistance of three dikes. After the reservoir, the water is transferred to intake channel C8 and from there into three 300 m long penstocks which feed the Simplício Power Plant's three Francis turbines. The penstocks provide 80 m of hydraulic head and are at a 12.48 percent angle. Once the water is discharged from the power station, it returns to the Paraíba via a 760 m long tailrace channel.

Popular culture
The project was featured on Build It Bigger during a season 8 episode.