The expansion project for ITAIPU Hydroelectrical Power Plant consists in add-on of 02 new 700MW generating units, named 9A-18A, that when operating together with 18 existing units will increase power capacity of the plant from 12,600MW to 14,000MW.
ITAIPÚ BINACIONAL entity was created by the ITAIPU Treaty ,signed by Brazil and Paraguay for hydroelectrical exploration of hydraulic resources of Paraná River in the section between 7 Quedas/Guaíra Falls and the mouth of Iguaçu River, a tributary of Paraná River.
The ITAIPÚ power plant is still the largest power plant in the world and world record producer of electrical power, having produced a record amount of 93,428GWh in year 2000.
ITAIPU BINACIONAL is responsible for the supply of 95% of power consumption in Paraguay and 24% of Brazilian needs of electricity.
The power house, one of the longest in the world, has 18 turbine-generators units of 700MW each, that entered into commercial service between may 1984 and September, 1991.All 18 units was supplied by CIEM Consortium and generators was built in Brazil and Germany by SIEMENS and BBC.
The 02 new generating units have the same rating as existing units and are being supplied by Consortium CEITAIPU formed by VoithSiemens Hydro, ALSTOM and others contractors for engineering civil works and erection under a Turn-key contract. The units 9A(50Hz)-18A(60Hz) will enter in commercial service in 2005.
The power generated at powerhouse is evacuated to 3x185MVA GSU single -phase transformers bank by means of Isolated Phase Bus 18kV-30,000A-125kV BIL rated, pressurized with dry air, was supplied by PowerBus, Itajaí, Brazil.
3,000A Motor-operated disconnecting switches in tap-bus and 30,000A-5A Current Transformers in main and Neutral -Tie bus were integrated in the system by PowerBus.

The Isolated Bus was supplied to VoithSiemens Hydro, Brazil was designed, type-tested ,manufactured and delivered to jobsite from PowerBus factory , Itajaí, Brazil in 2002-04.
Type tests were successfully conducted by PowerBus to ANSI C37.23 standard for short circuit withstanding,temperature rise and dielectric tests at Eletrobrás/CEPEL Power Testing Station, Adrianopólis, Brazil.
30,000A rms permanent current and 33,000A rms ratings for overload during 1,5 hour under natural cooling are record values tested for natural air cooled Isolated Phase Bus design.
PowerBus also successfully conducted dielectric tests up to 170kV BIL to IEC 60298/60694 standards, exceeding the 125kV ratings specified by ITAIPU BINACIONAL for the equipment and qualifying IPB of same design and sizing to 38kV maximum rated voltage or 1,975 MVA rated unit power.
All type tests were witnessed by PowerBus and customers engineers, to accomplish with severe requirements and technical specifications set forth by ITAIPÚ BINACIONAL for these equipments, vital in main circuit of power evacuation of the power plant.
PowerBus also supplied to VoithSiemens all B.O.P bus systems for units 9A-18A including 4,16kV-4500A Isolated Phase Bus for AC/DC Excitation links and 460V-3200A Non-Segregated Phase Bus for feeding ancillary services of the plant.
PowerBus performed also erection supervision at jobsite for all bus systems supplied for this project.