The Jirau Hydroelectric Power Plant, the fourth largest electric energy generator in Brazil, was awarded the world\u2019s highest level of certification according to the Hydroelectric Sustainability Standard, given by the Hydropower Sustainability Council. Jirau is the first hydro plant in Brazil to earn the certification, created in 2021, after a strict evaluation conducted by a team of certified examiners who visited the plan. Jirau is the second hydro plant worldwide to be recognized at this certification level.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are very happy and honored to have earned this unprecedented certification in Brazil. We dedicated ourselves from the outset to being sustainable and the ability to overcome is what best describes my recollections from the construction period. This year, we celebrate ten years in operation and the certification comes as an important recognition of our hard work,\u201d says Maur\u00edcio B\u00e4hr, CEO of ENGIE Brasil and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Jirau Energia, whose shareholders include ENGIE (40%), Eletrobras Eletrosul (20%), Eletrobras Chesf (20%) and Mitsui (20%).
\nJirau\u2019s commitment to sustainability became clear from the initial design, when the plant underwent an evaluation in 2012 based on the Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol (HSAP), which is also part of the Hydropower Sustainability Council. Construction of the plant was based on the optimized engineering model, which, aside from using the latest technical criteria, also took care for the environment into account. Located 120 km from Porto Velho (state of Rond\u00f4nia, Brazil), the plant converts the Madeira River\u2019s potential into renewable energy by means of 50 generator units that add up to 3,750 MW in installed capacity, placing first in the operational uptime ranking according to the National System Operator (ONS). <\/p>\n

\u201cOur efforts are not limited to environmental matters. We also maintain programs focusing on developing and building the skills of the regional population and specific groups, such as fisherfolk. This commitment can be seen in Jirau\u2019s evaluation results,\u201d noted Edson Silva, CEO of Jirau Energia. \u201cJirau is proof that infrastructure can be responsibly developed in the Amazon region.\u201d<\/p>\n

After the certification process and the visit to the Jirau plant, a 60-day public consultation period began during which stakeholders were able to review and comment on the assessment\u2019s conclusions. The project\u2019s performance exceeded best practices, with scores above 60% in every advanced item of each of the 12 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) topics listed in the Hydropower Sustainability Standard.
\n\u201cHaving conducted the Jirau project’s startup evaluation using HSAP during construction, it is very gratifying to go back after a decade in operation and bear witness to the significant progress and consolidation of environmental and social initiatives, together with the project\u2019s positive impacts,\u201d pointed out Joerg Hartmann, head of the 2023 assessment and also part of the evaluation team in 2012. \u201cHaving previously collaborated with Jirau Energia, we hold an optimistic outlook that this dedicated team will persist in working on remaining issues, particularly in areas related to the livelihoods of local communities and aquatic biodiversity, even as they have already achieved Gold-level certification\u201d
\nJirau has ESG Agenda-oriented projects
\nSince the project\u2019s early days, the company has been investing in monitoring studies for the native species in neighboring areas to ensure preservation of the region\u2019s biodiversity. Recovery of areas where interference occurred as a result of construction is another important front of action. Currently, 630 hectares are being reforested with support from 28 family-operated nurseries, which also generates income for the small landholders, an effort certified by IBAMA as a best practice for environmental-licensing purposes.
\n\u201cJirau is economically, environmentally, and socially integrated with the region where it lies,\u201d Edson summarized. The executive explained that the company continues to invest in the development of the Nova Mutum Paran\u00e1 housing project, built as new housing for the region\u2019s families that previously lived under paltry conditions on the banks of the Madeira River and were relocated to enable the plant\u2019s construction. The District exceeds two million square meters in area, with the capacity to house six thousand. Nova Mutum Paran\u00e1 already looks like a consolidated city, equipped with sewerage, paved streets, public schools day care centers, public lighting, telephone service, churches, Web access, and a variety of commercial and leisure activities.
\nAnother great legacy of Jirau in line with the ESG agenda is the plant\u2019s contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The UN-certified plant is the world\u2019s largest renewable energy project registered under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), avoiding the emission of six million tons of CO2 per year.
\nThe project was also part of the Group\u2019s first Green Bonds emission globally, in addition to having been funded in line with the Equator Principles.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As the first hydro plant in Brazil to earn this recognition, Jirau proves the sustainability of hydro projects in the Amazon region <\/p>\n","protected":false},"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-103788","imprensa","type-imprensa","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","tipo-release-renewables"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n