GE Renewable Energy’s hydro and grid solutions businesses have jointly signed a contract to technologically upgrade the Itaipu hydropower plant in Brazil, the second largest in the world.
A consortium led by GE Hydro Solutions will be responsible for the upgrade of the power plant, which has an installed capacity of 14GW and is located on the Parana River between Brazil and Paraguay.
The project, considered the largest technological upgrade of the hydropower plant since its inauguration nearly 40 years ago, is expected to take 14 years and is primarily aimed at updating Itaipu’s technology.
The upgrade includes equipment and systems of all 20 power generating units as well as the improvement of the hydropower plant’s measurement, protection, control, regulation and monitoring systems.
In total, Itaipu Binacional covers an average 8.4% of Brazilian and 85.6% of Paraguayan electricity consumption.
Pascal Radue, CEO and president of GE Renewable Energy Hydro Solutions, said: “It is an honour and an obligation for us to participate in this largest technological upgrade project of Itaipu since its commissioning.
“Because of its relevance in providing clean energy to the people of Paraguay and Brazil, Itaipu is key to avoiding future energy crises and ensuring affordable energy for generations to come.
“Likewise, we look forward to working with GE Grid Solutions to optimise the plant’s operations further enabling Itaipu Binacional to make the most of its assets and resources and meet the demand for clean energy in both countries.”
The implementation of the project is supported by the Paraguayan partner companies CIE and Tecnoedil, responsible for the assembly and supply of general materials, respectively.
In addition to the modernisation of the 20 power generating units, GE’s general scope of supply includes the supply of medium voltage cubicles, energy management systems, automation technology as well as the delivery of protection, control and supervision systems for the generating units.
Itaipu Binacional is the single plant that has produced the most energy in history: more than 2.8 billion gigawatts-hour since 1984.
The dam reaches a height of nearly 200 metres and is eight km long.