During the last quarter of 2008, Efacec’s Automation business area received an important order with the value of 2.1 million euros from REN, concerning the supply of systems and equipments necessary to remodelling of Ferreira do Alentejo (400/150/60 kV) and Fanhões (400/220/60 kV) substations, as well as the remodelling of Pego switching station (400 kV).

This turnkey supply consists of three substation automation systems, based on the CLP 500SCC platform integrating third party protection units.

The scope of the automation systems remodelling has the following configuration:
- Fanhões substation - two 220 kV line bays
- Ferreira do Alentejo substation - one 400/150 kV autotransformer bay
- Pego switching station - two 400 kV line bays

This order is, once again, a sign of REN’s preference over our solutions and services, showing their recognition and trust in Efacec’s automation systems.

Efacec Automation unit received an important order trough Efacec Engenharia, to supply an automation system for the hydro power plant of Alqueva II, according to the Alqueva’s Power Enhancement project.

This Project, valued at 23 million euros for Efacec, will be implemented by a consortium of several companies: Efacec Engenharia, ALSTOM Hydro France, ALSTOM Portugal and SMM-UM.

This power enhancement, to be settled at the right shore of the Guadiana River, implies the construction of a new hydraulic circuit and a new power plant, inserted in an open pit excavation that will be equipped with two groups of reversible generators. Each one will have a maximum power of 129.6 MW (with a total of 260 MW) doubling the power plant capacity. The hydraulic system is composed by a water intake, which was built at the time of the construction of the dam, as well as by underground water galleries and an outlet similar to the one already in use in this power plant. This new facility is intended to be fully operational by December 2011.