First 800 kV line of Belo Monte transmission project energised in Brazil

State Grid Brazil Holding, the Brazilian company of China’s SGCC, has put the first transmission line associated with the 11.2 GW Belo Monte power complex into operation. This is the largest high voltage direct current line in the country. The power complex is located on the Xingu river in the northern state of Pará. The transmission project included construction of the ±800 kV, 2,092 km Xingu-Estreito line, a ±800 kV, 4,000 MW AC/DC converter at the Xingu substation and a ±800 kV, 3,850 MW DC/AC converter station at Estreito. In May 2015, the project received preliminary approval from Brazil’s environmental agency Ibama.