CENTRAL TERMOELECTRICA TIMBUES — Argentina

CENTRAL TERMOELECTRICA TIMBUES is a 865.1 MW gas power station in Santa Fe, Argentina. It is operated by CENTRAL TERMOELECTRICA JOSE DE SAN MARTIN (TSM). Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 974k homes (estimated). It ranks #13 of 275 Argentina power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2008, it is around 18 years old — relatively modern. In context, gas supplies about 52.7% of Argentina's electricity; the national grid averages 346 gCO₂/kWh (41.6% low-carbon) (2025).

Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id ARG0000307.

Data provenance

Source of the capacity and fuel values:

capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000406673; fuel: WRI GPPD

In context: how this plant compares

At 865.1 MW, CENTRAL TERMOELECTRICA TIMBUES is well above the median gas plant in Argentina (125 MW). 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 Argentina gas capacity

3.8% of 22,760 MW across 95 plants in this dataset

Age among peers

30 of 63 dated gas plants in Argentina are 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 Argentina

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

Owner

Operated by CENTRAL TERMOELECTRICA JOSE DE SAN MARTIN (TSM).

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 humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) — Southern Hemisphere, latitude 32.6°S — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.

Monthly mean temperature

Heating degree-days here run 68% 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: 24/100 — this site sits in the bottom third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.

A gas turbine here also runs ~2% 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 a moderately corrosive environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C3 — Medium), 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 #6 largest gas power plant of 95 in Argentina by capacity.

Argentina has 95 gas power plants in this dataset, together about 22,760 MW of capacity.

Nearby power plants

• VUELTA DE OBLIGADO · Gas · 841 MW · Santa Fe
• Terminal 6 San Lorenzo cogeneration plant · Gas · 391 MW · Santa Fe
• SORRENTO · Coal · 226 MW · Santa Fe
• Roldán power station · Gas · 120 MW · Santa Fe
• Pérez thermal power station · Gas · 80 MW · Santa Fe
• Cañada de Gómez thermal power station · Gas · 65 MW · Santa Fe

Location

Coordinates -32.5778, -60.791 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.

Frequently asked questions