Editing Itaipu Dam (section)

=== Capacity expansion in 2007 ===
[[Image:Itaipu 3285.jpg|left|thumb|180px|The dam undergoes expansion work.]]
The last two of the 20 electric generation units started operations in September 2006 and in March 2007, thus raising the installed capacity to 14 GW and completing the power plant. This increase in capacity allows 18 generation units to run permanently while two are shut down for maintenance. Due to a clause in the treaty signed between Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina, the maximum number of generating units allowed to operate simultaneously cannot exceed 18 (see the [[#Agreement by Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina|agreement]] section for more information).

The rated nominal power of each generating unit (turbine and generator) is 700 MW. However, because the [[Hydraulic head|head]] (difference between reservoir level and the river level at the bottom of the dam) that actually occurs is higher than the designed head ({{cvt|118|m|||disp=or}}), the power available exceeds 750 MW half of the time for each generator.
Each turbine generates around 700 MW; by comparison, all the water from the [[Iguaçu Falls]] would have the capacity to feed only two generators.