Statkraft, a Norwegian renewable energy company, has opened the Cheves hydropower plant in Peru. The power plant is Statkraft’s ninth in the country, and increases the company’s renewable energy generation in Peru to 2,500 GWh per year.
“Cheves HPP delivers 172 megawatts, representing 3 percent of the current demand of the country and equivalent to lighting 560,000 Peruvian households,” Asbjørn Grundt, Executive Vice President, International Hydropower at Statkraft, told The Source. “The country’s strategic interest for the promotion of clean, renewable, sustainable and climate-friendly energy is reflected in the energy policy mainly through hydroelectric power plants.”
The new hydropower plant is located 130 kilometres north of the capital Lima, on the Huaura River. The power station consists of two aggregates with a total installed capacity of 172 MW. The power plant is the first greenfield project developed and constructed by Statkraft alone in South America.
In Peru, Statkraft is focusing its investment in hydropower, based on the opportunities offered by the country for this resource and the knowledge of watersheds in its portfolio.
“Cheves is an important step in the contribution of energy to the country and another example of how the private sector and communities can generate further development with more than 50 local development projects implemented during the construction phase,” said Juan Antonio Rozas, Country Manager of Statkraft in Peru.
The Cheves hydropower plant started commercial operations in late August, and will have an annual generation of around 840 GWh based on water from the Andes. The electricity generated will be sold on a long-term Power Purchase Agreement with eight local distribution companies.
“Cheves HPP is a very important project for Peru, not only due to the investment of over US$600 million, but for what it represents for the growth of the country’s energy matrix and development of the sector,” added Grundt.
