One of the largest and most important hydroelectric plants in the country, Ilha Solteira HPP celebrates its 50th anniversary this Tuesday, July 18th. It was on this date, in 1973, that the first generating unit went into operation.

Located on the Paraná River between the municipalities of Ilha Solteira (SP) and Selvíria (MS), and with an installed capacity of 3,444 MW,  Ilha Solteira HPP, together with Jupiá HPP, makes up the fourth largest hydroelectric complex in Brazil.

During construction, which began in 1968, thousands of workers from different parts of Brazil were moved to the region, forming the village that would give rise to the current Tourist Resort of Ilha Solteira. 3.6 million m³ of concrete were also used, enough to build 45 Maracanã stadiums.

With a 5.6 km long dam and a reservoir capable of storing 21 billion m³ of water, the Ilha Solteira plant could house six Guanabara Bays, in Rio de Janeiro.

With 3,444 MW of installed capacity and 10,055,450.35 MW generated in 2022 alone, it generates, on average, enough energy to supply a city of 3.4 million inhabitants.

Learn more now about the people who work at our plant and who have contributed and continue to contribute to this success story:

Carlos Araújo | Technician Specialist in Electronic Maintenance

Carlos Araújo at his desk

“Today is our company's birthday and we're all the ones who get the present! Our gift is the pride we can feel when we see where our daily efforts and our evolution as a collective go. Our gift is to know that we are part of a responsible corporation, which works seriously and with dignity, and to be able to wear this shirt with the certainty of something meaningful and well done.

I had the opportunity to start my professional career at the recently opened UHE Ilha Solteira in 1973, my first formal job, where I remain proudly working until now. In this way, I had the opportunity to accompany the assembly and commissioning of most of the twenty generating units of the plant, which allowed me to know in detail their technical and philosophical particularities.

Today, with an experience acquired in almost 49 years of work, I seek to contribute as much as possible to the plant's modernization projects and I have even been to China twice helping in the development of the automation project for the second modernization batch.

Carlos and the team of CESP in the 70's

My personal goal is to try to share everything I've learned over these years with as many as possible and, above all, to contribute to the professional training of younger people.

Congratulations to all of us on this date!”

Ricardo Borges | Operations coordinator

Ricardo with 16 years old and his father

"I started in Ilha Solteira as an intern in 1996 at the encouragement of my father, who had been working at the plant for 16 years. It was my first contact with the area after training in electrotechnics.

I joined the operation area in 1997, a source of pride for me, for having been approved in a very competitive public tender and since then, being part of the operating area in one of the most important hydroelectric power plants in the country.

Ricardo Borges in Day One at Ilha Solteira in 2016

That allowed me to evolve in my personal and professional relationships. The transformation of the plant continues, as well as my pride in working in this place that I can call home. Gratitude!"

Joao Franco Ribeiro | Senior Mechanical Maintenance Technician

João Franco Ribeiro nowadays at Ilha Solteira

“I come to congratulate ILHA SOLTEIRA HPP on its fiftieth anniversary and here express the satisfaction of being part of this story, where I had the opportunity for professional and personal growth. I participated in the maintenance of all 20 Generating Units, actively participated in the innovation of the verticalization method of Generating Units with self-aligning bearings and rigid bearing leveling, I worked in other Plants as a multiplier of the bearing verticality / leveling method.

João doing the ultrassound in 2008.

ILHA SOLTEIRA HPP, as a reference in the generation of clean energy, complies with the maintenance schedule of the Generating Units on time, contributing to the reliability of the system, always safely preserving its greatest asset, which are people, because ideas are in vain if we do not have hands skilled to perform.

CONGRATULATIONS ILHA SOLTEIRA!!!”

Marcelo Milan de Souza | Communication Analyst

Marcelo Milan, his family, colleagues and their families during a visit at the plant

My connection with the Ilha Solteira HPP dates back to my birth. I am the son of a dam builder, I feel very proud to know that my father is part of this history and helped build this important plant.

Many years passed and the umbilical cord was not cut, as fate would have it that I remained literally connected, energized by this plant.

Working at the Visitors Reception since 1998, I had the opportunity to assist thousands of people, being able to bring knowledge about the electricity sector through monitored visits.

Milan nowadays at the plant

Today I'm on the sustainability team and I'm responsible for the Visitation Program. Our goal is to provide more education, culture and leisure to communities.

Marcos Paiva | Senior Electronics Maintenance Technician

Marcos Paiva

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of  Ilha Solteira HPP, I am happy to contribute to 27 of them. This gigantic undertaking fills me with pride, something often highlighted by the numerous visits I have accompanied over the years.

I still remember my first day, thinking: "Am I going to be able to work here, with all this noise, this dangerous and complex equipment? I will need to dedicate myself intensely to reach the level of knowledge of those who have been here for years".

As time went by, I completed countless training sessions, dedicated myself to the fullest, and got to know many internal areas of the HPP that I had never imagined. And as incredible as it may seem, there is still a lot to learn even today.

As an electronics technician, I was used to working with small components. But here, we use almost 0.5kg electronic components, high current, high voltage. Initially frightening, today they have become commonplace. We adapt to the danger that our work involves, to the procedures necessary to carry it out safely, to the constant changes and updates. However, everyday life should never become mere routine. There is always an effort to be made to achieve excellence. That lesson, I've learned over the years and I'm still learning.

Picture taken by Marcos Paiva: general vision of Ilha Solteira HPP

I greatly value and respect the professionals I work with today and those with whom I learned to maintain this great work. A joint effort that is an integral part of my professional and personal life and that, one day, will be part of my story to be told to my grandchildren. My wife and children, who have always been my personal support, already know this story well.

Through work, dedication, humility and respect, I learned from the most experienced and listened to the most novices, as both offer valuable information. This information can be the differential, not only for the development of the work, but to ensure that each one of us returns home safe and sound, and to be able to say that I was part of something important that will last for generations.

Photo of Ilha Solteira from Marcos Paiva

Ilha Solteira HPP, the largest generator of electricity in the State of São Paulo and CTG Brasil per hour, is of great importance for the stability of the Brazilian energy system. It is a source of pride to all those who dedicated many hours of their lives here.

Congratulations Ilha Solteira, congratulations to colleagues who generate energy in this unit every day, gratitude to the professionals who shared their stories.