AES Colón power station — Panama

AES Colón power station is a 381 MW gas power station in Colón, Panama. It is operated by AES Panamá SRL [100%]. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 429k homes (estimated). It ranks #2 of 21 Panama power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2018, it is around 8 years old — recently built. In context, gas supplies about 20.8% of Panama's electricity; the national grid averages 221 gCO₂/kWh (68.0% low-carbon) (2024).

Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id GOGPT_aescolon_panama.

Data provenance

Source of the capacity and fuel values:

capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000406598; fuel: GEM GOGPT

In context: how this plant compares

Technically it is described as CCGT; combined-cycle with a heat-recovery steam generator (HRSG). Gas plants burn natural gas either in open-cycle turbines for fast peaking, or in combined-cycle units that recover exhaust heat in an HRSG to reach roughly 55–62% efficiency — the cleanest-burning fossil option.

Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.

Key facts

Share of Panama gas capacity

27.9% of 1,364 MW across 4 plants in this dataset

Age among peers

1 of 4 dated gas plants in Panama is older

Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).

Capacity vs largest gas plants in Panama

Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).

Owner

Operated by AES Panamá SRL [100%].

Local climate & thermal context

This gas plant burns natural gas in a turbine — often in a combined-cycle setup — to generate electricity. It sits in a tropical monsoon climate (Köppen Am) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 9.3°N — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.

Monthly mean temperature

This site has effectively no heating season (tropical/equatorial climate), so winter heat loss is not the driver here. The thermal concern shifts to year-round process heat and humidity/heat-driven corrosion of hot equipment.

A gas turbine here also runs ~8% below its ISO (15°C) rating at this annual mean (typical CCGT curve, estimate).

Climate normals: WorldClim 2.1 (1970–2000 monthly normals, 10 arc-min, CC BY 4.0); zone: Köppen-Geiger world climate classification (Kottek et al. 2006, 0.5° grid). Degree-days & heat-demand index computed by PowerAtlas — a modelled heat-demand proxy, not a measured site figure.

Site climate & environmental severity

This site sits in an aggressive, high-corrosion environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C5 — Very high), with marine salt corrosion the leading environmental stress.

Indicative estimate via the ISO 9223:2012 informative method (atmospheric corrosivity from temperature, time-of-wetness and airborne salinity), using WorldClim climate normals, the Köppen-Geiger class and coast distance. Indicative, not a measured corrosion rate.

How it compares & nearby plants

The #2 largest gas power plant of 4 in Panama by capacity.

Panama has 4 gas power plants in this dataset, together about 1,364 MW of capacity.

Nearby power plants

• Gatún power station · Gas · 670 MW · Colón
• MH-1A nuclear power plant · Nuclear · 10 MW · Colón
• Gatun Hydroelectric Power Plant Panama · Hydro · 22.5 MW · Colon
• Bahia las Minas Coal Power Plant Panama · Coal · 120 MW · Colon
• Central 9 de Enero (JB) CCGT Power Plant Panama · Gas · 160 MW · Colon
• Madden Hydroelectric Power Plant Panama · Hydro · 36 MW · Colon

Location

Coordinates 9.337361, -79.909361 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.

Frequently asked questions