Hydro manufacturers Alstom, Andritz and Voith have joined forces to supply machinery for the Belo Monte project in Brazil. The project will be the third largest hydropower plant in the world, with a planned capacity of 11,230 MW.

Generating the power will be 14 611 MW Francis turbine-generator sets as well as six bulb turbines and six generators for the Pimental power house. The electricity will potential supply 35 million people.

With more than 80% of Brazil’s electricity generated by hydropower the firms have played an important part in the manufacture and supply of hydro technology for a number of years.

Philippe Joubert, President of Alstom Power said: “This contract is the product of our commitment to developing highly efficient renewable energy solutions. Our high performance hydro turbines and generators, in conjunction with our grid technology, maximize the efficiency of hydropower plants.”

The project is expected to start supplying energy by 2014 and will be fully complete in 2019.