Âmbar Boosts Salto Do Passo Velho Capacity to 11.75MW
Âmbar Energia commits R$60 million to expand a Santa Catarina hydropower asset, increasing its installed capacity by a factor of 6.5.
Âmbar Energia has committed R$60 million to the expansion and modernization of the Salto do Passo Velho small hydropower plant. Located on the Chapecozinho River in Bom Jesus, Santa Catarina, the facility will see its installed capacity rise from 1.8MW to 11.75MW. This 6.5-fold increase significantly enlarges the company's generating footprint in the state.
The project is part of a broader strategy to strengthen Âmbar’s presence in Brazil’s Southern Region. The company currently operates assets across Santa Catarina, Paraná, and Rio Grande do Sul. By upgrading this specific hydro asset, Âmbar aims to diversify its renewable energy mix within the region, complementing existing thermal and gas-fired operations.
Construction timeline targets 2030 completion
Construction for the expansion is scheduled to conclude in December 2030. The investment focuses on modernizing the infrastructure to handle the increased load from the Chapecozinho River. This timeline aligns with the company's long-term capital expenditure plans for its southern Brazilian portfolio.
Southern region portfolio spans multiple states
In Santa Catarina, Âmbar owns four power plants including Salto do Passo Velho. The portfolio also includes the 8.2MW Salto Voltão and 1MW Paraíso hydropower plants, alongside the 28MW biomass-fired Lages thermal plant. This mix allows the company to balance renewable hydro generation with thermal capacity in the state.
Beyond Santa Catarina, the company’s southern operations include the 484MW Araucária gas-fired plant in Paraná. In Rio Grande do Sul, Âmbar manages the Uruguaiana and Candiota thermal power plants, with installed capacities of 640MW and 350MW respectively. These assets form the core of its large-scale generation business in the region.
J&F group ownership structure
Âmbar Energia is a subsidiary of the J&F group. The parent company’s involvement supports the capital requirements for such infrastructure upgrades. The expansion of Salto do Passo Velho adds to the group's overall energy production capacity in Brazil, reinforcing its position in the utility sector.
