In December of last year, the binational Itaipu plant reached 98,800,319 megawatt-hours (MWh) of energy generation, surpassing the previous record held by the Three Gorges plant in China. The milestone was achieved thirteen hours after Itaipu broke its own record of 98.6 million MWh set in 2013.
The world record for annual energy generation adds to another title that Itaipu already held: the highest accumulated production. Since its first generating unit began operation in May 1984 (exactly 32 years and seven months ago), Itaipu has produced over 2.4 billion MWh, enough energy to supply the entire world for 40 days.
The increase in production is also reflected in higher royalties (compensation for the use of water for electricity generation) paid to Brazil and Paraguay. Since the calculation is based on the variation of the dollar — and because the dollar has appreciated against the Brazilian real — the production royalty transfers will be 15% higher this year. Since the start of payments in 1985, the total royalties paid by Itaipu to the two countries have increased by $10 billion.