Brazil has installed floating photovoltaic power plants in hydropower plants to generate electricity during the dry season

Brazil plans to install a floating photovoltaic system at the Balbina hydropower plant in the Amazon River to supply power during the dry season when the plant is insufficient, according to Brazil's energy agency Federal Energy Development Company (EPE); At present, the first phase of the project has been completed
.

EPE noted that this is the first time that a floating photovoltaic system
has been used in a hydropower station.
The first phase of the project includes the installation of a 01,000 kilowatt photovoltaic system, which will be expanded to 05,000 kilowatts
in the future.
On March 11, a similar project was launched
at the Sobradinho hydroelectric power plant in Bahia.

Brazilian Energy Minister Eduardo Braga said Balbina's transmission and distribution capacity was not fully utilized due to drought, and the solar project could take advantage of this spare capacity and reduce electricity costs
.

The two solar projects, which require an investment of nearly $26.
7 million and a total capacity of 10,000 kilowatts, are expected to be completed
in January 2019.