The expansion will increase total capacity of the power project under construction on the Madeira river from the initial 3,300MW to 3,750MW.
Each unit of the Jirau project has a generating capacity of 75MW and majority of the project’s output has been contracted under long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs).
The new six units have been allocated 209MW of assured energy, 100% of which has been sold in the regulated market at an inflation-indexed price of $64/MWh for 30 years beginning in 2014.
According to GDF Suez, total assured energy for the whole project now amounts to 2,184MW, of which 73% is contracted under long-term PPAs.
The balance will be sold in the free market, and in addition, the expansion may allow for a further 90MW of assured energy to be allocated to the project, the company said.
International Power, which is 70% owned by GDF Suez, holds a 50.1% stake in the project company Energia Sustentavel do Brasil that is building the Jirau power project.
