[14.10.2016] 16:21 / By Fabio Couto – Revista Brasil Energia

With a focus on renewable projects, Cotesa inaugurates its systems operation center in December, advancing in the segment of services to entrepreneurs who cannot yet invest in their own facilities but need to monitor their daily operation.

The company from Santa Catarina, which already has five contracts under negotiation, will also manage its three small hydroelectric plants that are already in operation, adding a fourth plant, which is under construction, according to the president of Cotesa, João Junklaus.

As usinas estão localizadas no município de Nova Trento. A Cotesa foi fundada há 20 anos e tem como carro-chefe a oferta de serviços de operação e manutenção de linhas de transmissão e subestações. O portfólio foi ampliado com a oferta destes serviços para geradoras, conta Junklaus. A companhia tem ainda uma subsidiária especializada em soluções e uma comercializadora de energia.

The company has been identifying growth in demand for O&M contracts, given the entry of new players in the market, which do not have traditional operations in the electricity sector, such as basic industries and pension funds, which have started to invest in renewable generation, especially wind farms .

“These are companies that do not have energy production in their DNA,” says Junklaus.

“Our goal is to serve those who don't have the scale for this type of business,” added Cotesa's Development manager, Nacib Nazir Elias.

The center required investments of around R$ 1 million, generated 15 direct jobs and 200 indirect ones, and has room for expansion in the future, highlighted Elias. Initially, the center has the capacity to serve 20 projects, including substations and power plants.

Executives say that Cotesa is also eyeing the result of the next reserve auction in December, which will negotiate solar and wind power plants, as well as intending to capture new contracts between the winning SHPs in the September auction, exclusively for small hydro. Another focus of the company is the transmission auction, which takes place on October 28th.

Junklaus recalls that adjustments made by the government to improve attractiveness can mean better results, with fewer empty lots. Cotsa's goal is to close 10 contracts for next year.

The vision of this market, according to Junklaus and Elias, is that there is a search for efficiency in spending, especially if the Provisional Measure that regulates the outsourcing of services is approved in the National Congress, due to the potential of business opportunities that the decision can bring.