Itaipú Binacional projects a scenario of massive expansion that could install a capacity equivalent to that of the current hydroelectric plant itself, but built entirely with floating solar panels on its reservoir. According to Pedro Domaniczky, an engineer and Superintendent of Renewable Energies at the entity, exploiting just 10% of the total water surface area would allow nearly 14,000 megawatts (MW) of additional power to be injected into the system.
He announced this during the panel "Energy and Construction in Paraguay: Challenges for Sustainability," held at the CONMEBOL Convention Center in Luque, on the sidelines of the 26th edition of the Constructecnia fair. The strategic plan aims to mitigate the plant's total dependence on rainfall patterns and the flow of the Paraná River, enabling aggressive electrical growth without the need to flood new lands or alter the tripartite navigation agreement.
Domaniczky highlighted that the Itaipú reservoir covers 134,000 hectares, an area comparable to 134,000 soccer fields. The hydro-solar generation model proposes synergy with the traditional dam: during hours of peak solar radiation, when consumption in Paraguay spikes due to massive air conditioning use, the panels would operate at maximum capacity. This would balance the load and allow water in the reservoirs to be "saved" for moments of high nighttime demand.
Beyond energy generation, the installation of floating structures reduces point evaporation from the covered water by up to 70%. Lake vapor and wind also create a natural cooling effect that optimizes panel production by between 10% and 12% compared to land-based plants.
To demonstrate the project's viability beyond theoretical simulations, Itaipú already operates a 0.75-hectare pilot plant equipped with 1,584 state-of-the-art solar panels using Type N (Topcon) technology. The system generates 1,116 kilowatts (kW), enough energy to supply approximately 700 low-income households, and currently directly covers 40% of the hydroelectric plant's own internal consumption.
This facility currently represents the third-largest floating solar plant in South America, surpassed only by a complex in São Paulo, Brazil, and utilizes the four largest electrical inverters in the Paraguayan region. To counterbalance the inherent intermittency of solar energy caused by passing clouds or stormy days, the entity confirmed it is in the full bidding process to purchase and integrate a 4.4 MW battery storage bank, ensuring total stability of energy injection.
The ultimate goal is to validate the costs and technical performance of this experience at a real scale to propose replicating the model not only to the National Electricity Administration (ANDE) but also to the private sector under the new national regulatory framework. The target is to bring this technological solution to critical zones of the territory, such as the Paraguayan Chaco, where water scarcity and extreme heat demand cutting-edge alternatives.