By Brazil Stock Guide – Itaipu Binacional has begun installing its first floating solar power plant on the reservoir of its massive hydroelectric facility. The experimental project is expected to begin generating electricity later this year, marking a milestone in the company’s strategy to diversify its energy sources.
The first set of 132 photovoltaic panels has been deployed on the reservoir’s surface. In total, ten arrays with 1,584 modules will be installed, according to Estadão Broadcast, with a maximum capacity of 1 megawatt-peak (MWp). While all the energy will be used internally at Itaipu, the output would be enough to supply about 650 households.
Binational partnership and investment
The project is being developed by a consortium led by Brazil’s Sunlution and Paraguay’s Luxacril, which won the tender with a $854,500 bid. The system will be connected to a substation on the Paraguayan side of the dam, close to the floating plant’s location.
In a statement, Itaipu noted that “the equipment has international quality certifications, an estimated lifespan of 30 years, and resistance to adverse weather conditions.”
Expansion potential
Rogério Meneghetti, Itaipu’s superintendent of renewable energies, said the project could pave the way for a major leap in capacity. “If the experimental project proves viable, Itaipu could generate up to 14,000 megawatts by covering 10% of the reservoir’s surface with solar panels. The volume would be equivalent to the hydro plant itself,” he explained.
Enio Verri, the Brazilian director-general of Itaipu, stressed the strategic dimension of the initiative. “This experience reinforces Itaipu’s role as a driver of innovation in the electricity sector and in the energy transition,” he said.
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