Mitsubishi Power Americas, Inc. (Mitsubishi Power) and CONSAG Engenharia, an Andrade Gutierrez company, have signed an agreement with Portocem Geração de Energia S.A. and New Fortress Energy, Inc. (NFE) for the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) of the Portocem Thermoelectric Power Plant (UTE Portocem) in Brazil.
“The UTE Portocem project is yet another example of how the Brazilian power generation sector is recognizing the need for advanced, cleaner power generation technology to meet the needs of a changing market,” said Tim Shore, Senior Vice President of LATAM Commercial and Regional Leader for Mitsubishi Power Americas.
The agreement was formalized on May 10, 2024, at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. headquarters in Tokyo. Representatives from all consortium parties attended the ceremony, which included a traditional Japanese Daruma doll ceremony symbolizing the shared goal of making the Portocem project a success.
Under the EPC agreement, Mitsubishi Power will supply four M501JAC enhanced air-cooled gas turbines to operate in simple cycle at UTE Portocem. CONSAG will provide the balance of plant, utilities, civil works, assembly, and commissioning of the plant, as well as the implementation of the transmission line and substation. This collaboration will deliver 1.6 GW of firm, dispatchable power capacity, making UTE Portocem Brazil’s largest peaking power plant and one of the largest power plants in Latin America, enhancing the reliability of Brazil’s national grid and complementing the existing reliance on hydropower.
The project received full regulatory approval in March 2024 and is backed by a 15-year Capacity Reserve Contract. Portocem Geração de Energia S.A. emerged as the biggest winner in Brazil’s first Power Capacity Reserve Auction in December 2021. This marks Mitsubishi Power’s third advanced technology heavy-duty gas turbine project in Brazil in five years, totaling approximately 2.6 GW of gas turbine capacity.
Commercial operation is expected to begin in 2026, with construction of the thermal power plant already underway. NFE recently completed construction and commissioning of the Barcarena LNG terminal, which will supply LNG to over 2.2 GW of capacity (owned by NFE) in Para, Brazil.
“Brazil’s energy landscape is evolving rapidly, driven by factors such as droughts and near-universal electrification. Mitsubishi Power is proud to support Brazil’s transition to cleaner energy through this significant project,” added Tim Shore.
Brazil aims to achieve ambitious decarbonization targets, including a 49% reduction in GHG emissions by 2025 and 53% by 2030, compared to 2005 levels, with the ultimate goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.
About Mitsubishi Power Americas, Inc.
Headquartered in Lake Mary, Florida, Mitsubishi Power Americas, Inc. employs over 2,800 experts in power generation, energy storage, and digital solutions. Committed to combating climate change and advancing human prosperity, Mitsubishi Power’s solutions encompass gas, steam, and aero-derivative turbines, geothermal systems, PV solar project development, and intelligent solutions for autonomous plant operation. Mitsubishi Power is a brand of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI), a global leader in heavy machinery manufacturing.