Birris 3 Hydroelectric Power Plant Costa Rica

Birris 3 Hydroelectric Power Plant Costa Rica is a 4.4 MW hydro power plant in Cartago, Costa Rica. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 4.4k homes (estimated). It ranks #27 of 27 Costa Rica power plants by installed capacity. As a non-combustion source, it has no direct CO₂ emissions from generation. In context, hydro supplies about 74.8% of Costa Rica's electricity; the national grid averages 24 gCO₂/kWh (100.0% low-carbon) (2025).

Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id GEODB0002354.

Data provenance

Capacity and fuel are the upstream open-dataset record, not yet matched to a 2026 registry or GEM entry.

capacity: WRI GPPD; fuel: WRI GPPD

In context: how this plant compares

At 4.4 MW, Birris 3 Hydroelectric Power Plant Costa Rica is below the median hydro plant in Costa Rica (50 MW). Hydropower converts the energy of falling or flowing water into electricity; output depends on rainfall and reservoir level, and large dams also provide grid balancing and storage.

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

Key facts

Share of Costa Rica hydro capacity

0.4% of 1,254 MW across 18 plants in this dataset

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

Capacity vs largest hydro plants in Costa Rica

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

Local climate & thermal context

This hydro plant converts the energy of falling or flowing water through hydro turbines. It sits in a temperate oceanic climate (Köppen Cfb) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 9.9°N — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.

Monthly mean temperature

Heating degree-days here run 98% below the median power plant in this dataset — a proxy for how much extra energy heated equipment must replace through its surfaces in winter.

Climate heat-demand index: 14/100 — this site sits in the bottom third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.

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 a corrosive environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C4 — High), with humidity / wetness 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 #18 largest hydro power plant of 18 in Costa Rica by capacity.

Costa Rica has 18 hydro power plants in this dataset, together about 1,254 MW of capacity.

Nearby power plants

• Birris 1 Hydroelectric Power Plant Costa Rica · Hydro · 18.6 MW · Cartago
• Cachi Hydroelectric Power Station Costa Rica · Hydro · 102 MW · Cartago
• La Joya Hydroelectric Power Station Costa Rica · Hydro · 50 MW · Cartago
• Rio Macho Hydroelectic Power Plant Costa Rica · Hydro · 120 MW · Cartago
• Angostura Hydroelectric Power Station Costa Rica · Hydro · 172 MW · Cartago
• Pirris Hydroelectric Power Station Costa Rica · Hydro · 134 MW · San Jose

Location

Coordinates 9.8944, -83.7869 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.

Frequently asked questions