With determination and a climate of expectation, Itaipú Binacional started the installation of the first set of floats that will form its floating solar plant (FSP) on the hydroelectric reservoir of the dam. The initiative is the first of its kind in Paraguay, and aims to demonstrate how solar energy can complement one of the world’s largest hydroelectric facilities.
By integrating a solar plant within its reservoir, Itaipú is positioning itself at the forefront of renewable energy innovation in South America, setting a precedent for similar projects in the region.
This pilot project, shared between Paraguay and Brazil, represents a milestone in the diversification of the national energy matrix and reflects a broader commitment to sustainability. It also highlights the potential for combining hydroelectric generation with a solar plant to optimise natural resources and reduce pressure during peak consumption periods.
Solar Plant: First steps on the water
In this first stage, 132 bifacial solar panels of 705 watts have already been placed on floating structures, marking the tangible start of the solar plant. The floats are assembled in segments using aluminium structures and then pushed towards the reservoir for their final location.
In total, the solar plant plans to install 1,584 panels mounted on 4,199 floats, with an initial projected capacity of 1,105.44 kilowatt peak (kWp), just over 1 MWp. The modules have an estimated lifespan of 30 years and are designed to withstand adverse weather conditions. At the same time, civil works and the laying of medium voltage cables are advancing to connect the floating structure with the switch room.
Previously, Itaipú had begun the installation of anchors, concrete blocks that will serve as fixation points for the floating buoys in the reservoir. In total, 86 blocks will be placed, connected by special ropes to the floating system.
Over 1,000 panels already launched
The project has not gone unnoticed at the institutional level. The Vice President of the Republic, Pedro Alliana, recently visited the site, observing the installation of floats and bifacial solar panels. During the visit, it was reported that 1,144 panels had already been launched into the water on resistant aluminium structures, as part of this phase of progress.
Justo Zacarías Irún, Paraguayan Director General of Itaipú, explained that the technical assembly involves joining floats, installing panels, and assembling floating segments for their subsequent positioning. He also emphasised that the schedule foresees that, if there are no major setbacks, the solar plant could be operating before the end of the year.
Potential and challenges
Although the initial aim is to supply Itaipú Binacional’s own internal consumption, thereby easing electricity demand peaks in the afternoons when air conditioning use increases, this solar plant will also serve as a technological test bed to compare efficiency between water-based and land-based generation. Specialists estimate that, theoretically, if only 10 per cent of Itaipú’s reservoir surface were covered with floating solar panels, the installed capacity could reach 14,000 megawatts, the equivalent of the hydroelectric plant itself.
Nevertheless, the project must overcome technical challenges: ensuring structural stability over fluctuating reservoir levels, resistance to extreme weather, long-term maintenance of floating systems, and integration with the existing electrical infrastructure.
The tender for this solar plant was awarded to the consortium Sunlution–Luxacril for USD 854,516, a figure 11.7 per cent below the reference budget. Moreover, the project is not limited to Paraguay; it is part of a binational vision. Brazil and Paraguay share this energy endeavour, strengthening regional cooperation in innovation, technology, and clean energy.
Floating solar plant and the road ahead
The installation of the first set of floats marks both a symbolic and practical advance in the path towards more sophisticated renewable energies in Paraguay. Although the initial stage is modest, around 1 MW of power, the commitment is strategic: to learn, adapt, and scale.
Itaipú’s floating solar plant may serve as a paradigm of how hydro and solar energy can be combined to transform the regional energy profile. If everything proceeds as planned, this pilot will inaugurate a new era in which lakes and existing infrastructures become allies in the energy transition.
Adding to this momentum, Itaipú Binacional has also recently transferred USD 1.09 billion to the Paraguayan State, resources that will be channelled towards national development, underscoring the binational entity’s central role in both energy production and economic progress.
