Brazil-Paraguay Itaipu Company Prepares Pilot Project for Floating Solar Battery

en.Wedoany.com Reported - Itaipú Binacional is advancing a pilot project for a battery energy storage system (BESS) paired with a floating solar power plant. Currently in the structural design phase, the project aims to accumulate technical experience to support future investment decisions in energy storage systems and renewable energy.

The project was announced during an electricity industry event. According to information provided by Itaipu to pv magazine Brasil, the project is currently undergoing structural design in collaboration with Itaipu Parquetec. At this stage, specific details such as the timeline, installed capacity, storage capacity, battery technology, investment amount, and contracting model have not yet been determined.

The project is positioned as a platform to evaluate the operational performance of BESS systems in various application scenarios. These scenarios include energy shifting, expanding operational flexibility, integrating floating solar generation, and complementary operation of photovoltaic power with hydropower.

Itaipú Binacional stated that the results generated by the project will form technical indicators to inform future energy storage investment decisions.

To design this project, Itaipu is referencing the technical standards considered in the Capacity Reserve Auction for Energy Storage Systems (LRCAP). Analysis parameters include a minimum autonomous power supply duration of four hours, continuous power output requirements throughout the period, and indicators related to equipment availability and operational performance.

The company noted that these standards will be used to assess the technology's adaptability to the future needs of the National Interconnected System (SIN), particularly against the backdrop of a continuously increasing share of renewable energy.

Although the project is experimental in nature, it forms part of Itaipu's strategy to expand technical knowledge on the application of batteries in the power system. The data expected to be obtained will guide future investments in electrochemical storage and renewable energy expansion, helping to enhance the reliability, operational flexibility, and energy security of the power systems in Brazil and Paraguay.

During the project announcement, Itaipu's Brazilian Director General, Enio Verri, stated that the company's research indicates the solar generation potential in the reservoir area could be expanded to over 1 GW, further reinforcing the development prospects for integrating hydropower plants, floating photovoltaic generation, and battery energy storage systems.