The technical director highlighted the role of energy efficiency, the plant’s longevity, and the “Itaipu More Than Energy” program as pillars of the company’s work
Itaipu Binacional’s Executive Technical Director, Renato Sacramento, participated this Saturday (15th) in the panel “Energy Efficiency as the Starting Point and the Driving Force of the Climate Transition,” promoted by the Brazilian Industrial Development Agency (ABDI) during the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém (PA).
Sacramento emphasized that the energy transition, besides being irreversible, must be gradual, just, and inclusive, ensuring that the benefits of clean energy reach the majority of the Brazilian population. “There’s no point in carrying out an energy transition where only those who can install solar panels benefit from it. We must extend this to most of the Brazilian population,” he stated.
The “Itaipu More Than Energy” program— which guides the company’s relationship with society and seeks to transform the lives of people in the hydropower plant’s area of influence—was one of the examples cited by the director during the panel.
He also recalled the Binational’s historic and social commitment, mentioning the recent letter of recognition and apology addressed to the Indigenous population affected by the dam’s construction 50 years ago. “We acknowledge that their lives were impacted. And Itaipu, under the current administration, issued this letter, making our apology to the Indigenous population public.”
Known for being the world’s largest producer of clean and renewable energy, Itaipu has also come to play an important role in the transformation of the Brazilian electrical matrix. The director explained that today, hydropower plants—especially Itaipu—contribute primarily to the operational security of the system and to meeting the late-afternoon load ramp, when solar generation drops to zero and demand reaches its peak.
Sacramento stressed that energy efficiency is also an internal priority and listed some of the initiatives underway. Among them are rigorous maintenance practices, with equipment availability above 90% of the time, and performance gains, with Itaipu producing in 2024 nearly 1.1 megawatts of electricity for every cubic meter of water used—an efficiency improvement that reduces the need for raw material.
Technological Upgrades and Longevity
To ensure the plant’s long-term operation, Itaipu is implementing the Technological Update Program (PAT), the largest investment plan since the plant’s construction. The project, launched in 2022 and scheduled for completion in 2036, aims to modernize all protection, control, and supervision systems, migrating from analog to digital.
Thanks to the quality control of the reservoir’s water and the 200-meter-wide reforested buffer zone surrounding the lake, among other factors, Itaipu’s reservoir currently has a projected lifespan of 194 more years—a figure reviewed every four years and expected to increase.
“All of this is what will allow us to maintain the excellent performance and efficiency levels of our equipment for a long period, ensuring that Itaipu continues to be essential to the Brazilian electrical system—whether due to its installed capacity or its readiness to meet demand with quality,” Sacramento concluded.
