OREANDA-NEWS. Manufacturing growth in Brazil, coupled with fluctuating temperatures, has contributed to a surge of electricity consumption and demand. As a result, transmission line and maintenance issues are more frequent than ever before. Responding to these growing challenges, GE’s Digital Energy business (NYSE: GE) is providing Furnas and Triangulo Mineiro Transmissora (TMT)/Geoenergia with the latest in protection and control equipment to ensure high-efficiency performance and quality for each of the utility’s grid modernization projects.

Furnas is one of the biggest utilities in Latin America and is responsible for power transmission in south, southeast and mid west Brazil.

These projects, which support the modernization of Brazil’s grid, mark GE’s inaugural entry into Brazil’s ANEEL transmission auctions. The auctions were won in December 2013 by TMT—a collaborative utility composed of Furnas and FIP Milao, with Furnas being the largest participant at 49 percent. TMT is leading the construction and installation of the new transmission line.

GE’s Digital Energy business will support the project by providing protection, control and communications systems, offering the latest in grid modernization technology. The project includes engineering, configuration, panels and factory and site-acceptance tests, as well as training for substation engineers to ensure reliable operation.

Transmission line auctions are key to the future of Brazil’s utility sector, with utilities looking for innovative solutions to modernize their grids and to ensure that efficient, reliable power can be delivered to metro areas. Together with leading Brazilian utilities such as Furnas, GE is helping address a variety of energy challenges that may affect Brazil’s electrical network.

‘’By combining the expertise of both GE and TMT, we are helping Brazil’s utility sector improve the reliability of the grid and transport more reliable power to fast growth regions. To help meet Brazil’s future energy needs, GE is providing its full range of solutions—from commissioning to installation to retroactive services—to ensure Brazilian utilities are positioned to meet their energy goals,” said Ricardo van Erven, general manager, Latin America, GE’s Digital Energy business.

In addition, GE is providing protection, control and communications solutions for the reactive compensation system, transmission lines, connections, feeders, measurements, protection and control panels, level 2 HMI/SCADA systems and automation solutions for the new 297-kilometer, 500-kilovolt transmission line being built from the Marimbondo II substation in Minas Gerais to the Assis substation in Sao Paulo.