The waves of the Paran á River beat over the dam of the Itaipu hydroelectric power station, which has been in operation for over 40 years and is now undergoing a brand new upgrade and renovation by Chinese engineers. The core equipment of the project has been delivered to the site for installation and commissioning, and the bipolar II transformation has officially started recently.

Winning an international super order after three years of preparation for bidding

In 2021, the Itaipu Hydroelectric Power Station launched an international bidding for DC transformation, marking the first comprehensive upgrade since the station was put into operation, with top global power companies competing on the same stage. China State Grid Corporation of China's subsidiary, China Electric Power Equipment Co., Ltd., stood out in the bidding process after decades of DC technology accumulation, three years of bidding preparation, and more than ten rounds of scheme optimization.

This is also the first large-scale international direct current transmission renovation project of State Grid Corporation of China. The entire set of core technologies and equipment are independently developed by China, which will build a more efficient and stable cross-border power highway for Itaipu.

China Pakistan team joins hands to tackle grid connected nodes

The adaptation of new equipment to decades old systems is the biggest technical hurdle in project advancement. The chief engineer of the project, Xiao Chong, led the team to initiate pre research during the bidding stage, collaborating with multiple parties to tackle key issues. Through customized interface conversion design, they built a smooth communication bridge between the new and old systems.

Brazilian local technical manager Jefferson has been deeply involved in the power industry for 13 years, and has established a deep understanding with the Chinese team on the field, dining table, and construction site. The current project is sprinting towards the year-end commissioning node at full speed. After commissioning, the availability rate of DC transmission from the power station will increase to 99%, injecting new impetus into Brazil's energy transformation.

The surging Paran á River witnesses this cross-border cooperation, and China's power technology is following this new transmission channel to deliver a continuous stream of clean electricity to the South American land.Editor/Cheng Liting