The Itaipu Hydroelectric Power Plant, one of the largest in the world, is about to take a significant step towards energy innovation.
A consortium formed by the Brazilian Sunlution and by Paraguayan Luxacryl was selected to install a floating solar power plant in the hydroelectric reservoir, on an experimental basis.
With a capacity of 1 MWp, the project represents an integration between hydroelectric and solar energy, reinforcing the importance of the role of the Itaipu plant.
In an exclusive interview to Canal Solar, granted during the Energyear Brazil 2025, in São Paulo (SP), André Pepitone, financial director of Itaipu Binacional, said that the pilot plant will allow the company to carry out studies that will allow the company to soon be able to operate a large-scale floating solar plant.
“It will be a pilot plant, in which we want to carry out a series of analyses. The company’s intention is to generate energy on a large scale with floating solar power. After all, we already have the entire spillway structure to transport this energy, which is the structure that serves the plant. This structure is already ready, with no need for additional investment, and solar generation will add even more energy to the binational company,” he said.
Investment in other renewable sources
In addition to solar energy, Pepitone said the company is also betting heavily on promoting other sources of clean energy. “We are making significant progress in other sources of generation, with investments in biogas and the production of SAF for aviation.”
“We are also studying the reversible energy rules that are being launched by the regulator. I believe there is a large niche to be explored by the plant in this regard, always aiming to benefit the Brazilian consumer,” Pepitone highlighted.
When asked by the reporter about how all these actions involving investments in other energy sources will be discussed over the next few years, the Itaipu Binacional executive stated that these are projects in which the company is already consolidated.
“Itaipu has already paid off its debt and we need to look to the future. We need to think about what the role of the plant will be in the next 50 years. Since we are a public company, we also need to look to benefit society and the Brazilian consumer,” he said.
Itaipu power plant
The Itaipu Power Plant is the largest hydroelectric plant in Brazil. It is located on the Paraná River, on the border between Brazil and Paraguay, and is istered by both countries and is responsible for an important part of the energy supply of both nations.
“Itaipu is an arm of this energy transition in our country, being a plant that has 20 700 MW turbines, totaling 14 thousand MW installed”, informed Pepitone.
all the content of Canal Solar is protected by copyright law, and partial or total reproduction of this site in any medium is expressly prohibited. If you are interested in collaborating or reusing part of our material, please us by email: [email protected].
