Technical Report Transmission Expansion
Planning
Transmission System Planning Studies
2018 Program
In order to provide transparency to the
activities performed by the Superintendence
of Transmission Planning – STE/EPE, the
current technical report presents a list of the
Transmission Expansion Planning studies
scheduled for 2018. This list contains valuable
information for the agents and to the general
public such as the study motivation and the
regions that are being assessed.
The transmission planning studies
carried out by EPE are in line with the MME
directives and they aim to provide the National
Interconnected System (SIN) with an
appropriate capacity and flexibility to cope
with the load growth, the integration of new
generation sources and (large) consumers
connections as well as the expansion of
regional interconnections.
In a continental country such as Brazil,
that has a diverse climate and load
distribution, the regional interconnections play
an important role of allowing the efficient use
of energy resources.
Unlike the generation studies, the
transmission planning studies have a
determinative characteristic.
As a reference, the N-1 reliability
criterion (loss of a single system element) is
considered during the assessment, and more
severe situations such as double
contingencies (N-2 reliability criterion) are also
analyzed.
Therefore, the transmission assets
recommended by EPE are subject to a
Transmission Auction or an Authorization
Process carried out by the regulatory agency
(ANEEL). It is important to notice that all the
recommendations made by EPE must be
approved by the Ministry of Mines and Energy
(MME) before any concession is granted.
05/01/2018
Among the main activities performed in a
transmission planning study are: (i) the identification
of the electric system future expansion needs; (ii) a
technical-economic and socio-environmental
assessment of different expansion alternatives; and
(iii) the definition of the best transmission expansion
alternative, including a description of the new main
grid transmission lines and substations (voltage
levels ≥ 230kV) to be auctioned off. It is worth noting
that in some cases the studies also recommend
expansions in the distribution network, whose
implementation is in charge of the local distribution
agent.
By the beginning of 2018, 29 transmission
planning studies were already in progress, and there
are still 14 scheduled studies, totalizing 43 studies.
It should be emphasized that the planned
schedule for these studies is greatly influenced by
various issues such as: (i) the agents’ delays in
replying EPE’s technical questions regarding the
feasibility of a specific expansion of the existing
facilities, (ii) the increasing land cost, and (iii) the
socio environmental factors identified during the
studies.
These challenges have strongly motivated
EPE and MME to work closer to the regional licensing
and infrastructure agencies in order to take into
consideration their concerns right at the beginning of
the transmission expansion alternatives design.
Finally, it should be emphasized that this
schedule may be updated throughout the year, and
both the quantity of studies and their prioritization
may change due to externalities such as the
assessment of the impacts of installation delays on
the system performance or MME’s requests for
specific planning studies.
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The pro-active transmission planning studies
The indicative characteristic of generation
expansion has caused relevant challenges on the
transmission system planning. In particular, it has
forced the planned network to play an important role
of providing the necessary flexibility to
accommodate different generation implementation
strategies, which depend on the results of the
energy auctions. Besides, the planned network must
provide an adequate electrical supply condition as
well as operational reliability.
Furthermore, due to the several challenges
regarding the implementation of the new
transmission assets, EPE has started do adopt a
pro-active planning strategy and an anticipative
approach aiming to prepare the electric system to
the future generation expansion despite the results
of the energy auctions.
In this context, where the transmission planning
must be carried out in such an advance and it
should provide a future system configuration with
enough flexibility to accommodate different
generation expansion scenarios, EPE is making
efforts towards a pro-active transmission expansion
planning, which is reflected in the various studies
listed in the following pages.
It is worth mentioning that the EPE has been
working on methodological and tools improvements
that consider an integrated analysis of the expansion
of generation and transmission in order to
incorporate planning under uncertainties into the
process.

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 Transmission System Planning Studies - 2018 Program

North Region (State of Maranhão included)

Study Motivation Status Conclusion

States PA/TO/MA
1. Load Supply Study: Novo Progresso Region (PA/MT)
st
Provide adequate load supply according to current standards of energy quality In progress 1 sem. 2018
and system reliability. Novo Progresso Region is located in the southwest of
Pará, supplyed by a 138 kV single radial circuit. This study should recommend a
new substation and a 230 kV transmission line.

Provide adequate load supply according to current standards of energy quality

nd
2. Load Supply Study: Gurupi Region(TO) and system reliability. This study should recommend a new substation and a In progress 2 sem. 2018
230 kV transmission line.

3
 Provide adequate load supply according to current standards of energy quality
nd
3. Load Supply Study: Açailândia Region (MA) and system reliability. This study should recommend a new substation and a In progress 2 sem. 2018
230 kV transmission line.

Provide adequate load supply according to current standards of energy quality st

4. Load Supply Study: Buriticupu Region (MA) To start 1 t sem. 2019
and system reliability. This study should recommend a new substation.

Northeast Region

Study Motivation Status Conclusion

State CE
st
5. Load Supply Study: Fortaleza Metropolitan Region Define a new substation in Fortaleza to supply Coelce local consumers from In progress 1 sem. 2018
2024.

Define a new substation close to the city of Crato due to lack of capacity of st
6. Load Supply Study: Milagres Substation In progress 1 sem. 2018
Milagres substation from 2024.

State PE
nd
7. Load Supply Study: Recife Metropolitan Region Provide adequate load supply according to current standards of energy quality In progress 2 sem. 2018
and system reliability: Bongi substation (N-1) criterion .

State BA
nd
Define a new planning solution to supply Coelba local consumers since the In progress 2 sem. 2018
8. Load Supply Study: Salvador Metropolitan Region construction of Pirajá substation and the related 230 kV transmission lines
were canceled.

Lack of capacity of Cícero Dantas and Olindina substations. No availability for st

9. Load Supply Study: Cícero Dantas and Olindina Substations In progress 1 sem. 2018
distribution lines entrances.

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 Lack of capacity of Itabaiana substation. Reinforcements in the local 230 kV nd
10. Load Supply Study: Itabaiana and Itabaianinha Substations To start 2 sem. 2018
system are needed.

Lack of capacity of the Bahia Western Region distribution system. New nd

11. Load Supply Study: Bahia Western Region To start 2 sem. 2018
substation needed.

Southeast and Midwest Regions

Study Motivation Status Conclusion

States MG/GO and DF

st
Transmission system reinforcements needed to increase system capacity In progress 1 sem. 2018
12. Transmission System and Load Supply Study: Iaciara Region (GO) allowing the integration of the regional hydraulic potential and local load
supply.

13. Transmission System and Load Supply Study: Triângulo Mineiro Transmission and distribution systems reinforcements needed to increase st
In progress 1 sem. 2018
and Alto Paranaíba (MG) system capacity allowing the integration of biomass and solar power plants
and local load supply.

14. Load Supply Study: Zona da Mata Mineira and Mantiqueira Region Transmission and distribution systems reinforcements needed to provide st
In progress 1 sem. 2018
(MG) adequate load supply to Energisa-MG and Cemig-D.

15. Diagnosis of the Distrito Federal transmission system performance st

Request from Ordinance MME 276 - 21/08/2013 In progress 1 sem. 2018
considering special reliability criteria (DF)

Provide adequate load supply according to current standards of energy quality st

16. Load Supply Study: Ipatinga Region (MG) In progress 1 sem. 2018
and system reliability: Ipatinga 1 230/13,8 kV substation

17. Assessment of the SIN performance considering the absence of Assessment of an alternative solution to TL 500 kV Estreito - Itabirito 2 that had nd
To start 2 sem. 2018
the TL 500 kV Estreito - Itabirito 2 (MG) its concession contract expired.

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 Distrito Federal and Goiânia Metropolitan Region transmission system
18. Assessment of the Goias transmission system performance due to nd
reinforcements needed as an alternative to the transmission assets related to To start 2 sem. 2018
the postponement of Bipole B (GO)
Bipolo B.

Transmission system reinforcements needed to increase system capacity st

19. Load Supply Study: Mascarenhas de Moraes-Cássia Region (MG) To start 1 sem. 2019
allowing the integration of new consumers.

States AC/RO/MT
20. AC/RO/MT and Southeast Region interconnection reinforcements
st
AC/RO/MT and Southeast Region Interconnection reinforcements needed to In progress 1 sem. 2018
increase power interchange capacity.The integration of future hydro power
plants located in Amazonas and Rondônia states is also considered.

States RJ/ES
st
21. Transmission System Study: Integration of future thermal power Transmission system reinforcements needed to increase system capacity In progress 1 sem. 2018
plants located in the states of Rio de Janeiro and Espírito Santo allowing the integration of future thermal power plants located in the states
of Rio de Janeiro and Espírito Santo.

st
22. Load Supply Study: Italva Region (Norte Fluminense) (RJ) Assessment of a new substation. Required by the distribution agent. In progress 1 sem. 2018

23. Transmission System and Load Supply Study: state of Espírito Assessment of Espírito Santo transmission system reinforcements taking into nd
To start 2 sem. 2018
Santo (ES) account the start of operation of the assets already auctioned.

Lack of capacity of Niteroi and Magé Regions supplying system. Assessment of st

24. Load Supply Study: Niterói and Magé Regions(RJ) In progress 1 sem. 2018
a new substation.

State SP
st
25. Transmission System and Load Supply Study: North, South and Transmission system reinforcements needed to provide adequate load supply In progress 1 sem. 2018
Central Regions of the city of São Paulo to of the city of São Paulo North, South and Central Regions.

26. Load Supply Study: East Region of the city of São Paulo and ABC Transmission system reinforcements needed to provide adequate load supply st
In progress 1 sem. 2018
Region - Leste and Ramon substations to East Region of the city of São Paulo and ABC Region.

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 Transmission system reinforcements needed to increase system capacity
27. Transmission System Study: integration of future biomass and PV st
allowing the integration of future PV/biomass power plants and São Paulo In progress 1 sem. 2018
power plants (Votuporanga Region -SP)
Northwest Region loads supply.

28. Transmission line Fernão Dias - Cabreúva 440 kV (SP) – An Assessment of an alternative solution to TL 440 kV Fernão Dias – Cabreúva for st
In progress 1 sem. 2018
alternative solution which there were no bidders in three bidding attempts.

29. Load Supply Study: São Paulo Metropolitan Region (Central Transmission system reinforcements needed to provide adequate load supply nd
To start 2 sem. 2018
Region) – 230 kV network to Grande São Paulo Central Region – 230 kV network .

South Region (state of Mato Grosso do Sul included)

Study Motivation Status Conclusion

State MS
st
30. EPE Technical opinion: Load Supply Study – South Region of state Need of EPE Technical Opinion regarding ENERGISA/MS Report recommending To start 1 sem. 2018
of Mato Grosso do Sul report carried out by – ENERGISA a new substation in Naviraí (MS).

State PR
Transmission system reinforcements needed to provide adequate load supply
st
31. Load Supply Study: Curitiba Metropolitan Region and Coast – Part to Curitiba Metropolitan Region and Coast. (only reinforcements to be In progress 1 sem. 2018
I (assets to be authorized) authorized)

Transmission system reinforcements needed to provide adequate load supply

32. Transmission System Load Supply Study: Curitiba Metropolitan according to specific standards of energy quality and reliability requirements st
In progress 1 sem. 2018
Region and Coast – Part II (assets to be auctioned off) for state capitals. This study should recommend new 525/230 kV substations
and 525 kV transmission lines. (only reinforcements to be auctioned off)

Transmission system reinforcements needed to provide adequate load supply nd

33. Transmission System and Load Supply Study: Paraná West Region To start 2 sem. 2018
to Cascavel Region. New substations are expected to be recommended.

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 nd
34. Telêmaco Borba hydro power plant: integration system study Define Telêmaco Borba hydro power plant integration system. To start 2 sem. 2018

st
State SC In progress 1 sem. 2018

35. Transmission System and Load Supply Study: North Region of the This study is a review of the original R1 Report due to updated information
state of Santa Catarina and Vale do Itajaí (Review) presented in R2 to R4 Reports.

36. Load Supply Study: State of Santa Catarina - South and Extreme Transmission system reinforcements needed to provide adequate load supply nd
To start 2 sem. 2018
South Regions to Siderópolis Region. New substations are expected to be recommended.

State RS
st
37. Load Supply Study: Porto Alegre Metropolitan Region – Part I Transmission system reinforcements needed to provide adequate load supply In progress 1 sem. 2018
(assets to be authorized) to Porto Alegre Metropolitan Region. (only reinforcements to be authorized)

Transmission system reinforcements needed to provide adequate load supply

38. Transmission System and Load Supply Study: Porto Alegre according to specific standards of energy quality and reliability requirements st
In progress 1 sem. 2018
Metropolitan Region – Part II (assets to be auctioned off) for state capitals. This study should recommend new 525/230 kV substations
and 525 kV transmission lines. (only reinforcements to be authorized)

Transmission system reinforcements needed to provide adequate load supply

39. Transmission System and Load Supply Study: Rio Grande do Sul nd
to Rio Grande do Sul Northwest Region. New substations are expected to be To start 2 sem. 2018
Northwest Region
recommended.

40. Transmission System and Load Supply Study: Rio Grande do Sul - Transmission system reinforcements needed to provide adequate load supply nd
To start 2 sem. 2018
Lajeado Region to Lajeado Region. New substations are expected to be recommended.

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 Studies to support technical feasibility reports

Study Motivation Status Conclusion

Monthly throughout
41. Technical evaluation of R2 reports prepared by third parties Permanent activity. Part of the transmission planning process. In progress
the year

Based on EPE experience there some specific cases in which the elaboration of st
In progress 1 sem. 2018
42. Technical report to define in which cases the R2 Report is not the R2 Report is not necessary.
necessary.

43. Technical Report presenting general data and electrical Support the EPE study groups in the technical-economic assessment st
In progress 1 sem. 2018
parameters of overhead transmission lines. alternatives (R1 Report)