Chilca 1 — Peru

Chilca 1 is a 975 MW gas power station in Lima, Peru. It is operated by Energía del Sur S.A.. Based on reported annual generation of 5,838 GWh, it can supply roughly 1.7 million homes. It ranks #1 of 40 Peru power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2012, it is around 14 years old — relatively modern. In context, gas supplies about 36.1% of Peru's electricity; the national grid averages 238 gCO₂/kWh (63.6% low-carbon) (2025).

Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id WRI1022053.

Capacity provenance

The public capacity above is the current source-record value. A 2026 tracker candidate lists 975 MW for Chilca power station, but it is not used as the public primary value until scope is verified (unit vs operating vs installed/project total).

Data provenance

Source of the capacity and fuel values:

capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000406603; fuel: WRI GPPD

In context: how this plant compares

At 975 MW, Chilca 1 is well above the median gas plant in Peru (360.8 MW). Technically it is described as CCGT; combined-cycle with a heat-recovery steam generator (HRSG); Siemens Energy: SST-700 HP, Siemens Energy: SGT6-PAC 5 000F. 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

Load factor

68%, from 5,838 GWh of reported generation; the median for 8 gas plants in Peru that report generation is 62%

Share of Peru gas capacity

15.9% of 6,118 MW across 16 plants in this dataset

Age among peers

5 of 15 dated gas plants in Peru 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 Peru

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

Owner

Operated by Energía del Sur S.A..

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 cold desert climate (Köppen BWk) — Southern Hemisphere, latitude 12.5°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 89% 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: 18/100 — this site sits in the bottom third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.

A gas turbine here also runs ~3% 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 corrosive environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C4 — High), with dust abrasion 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 #1 largest gas power plant of 16 in Peru by capacity.

Peru has 16 gas power plants in this dataset, together about 6,118 MW of capacity.

Nearby power plants

• Kallpa · Gas · 873.9 MW · Lima
• Fenix · Gas · 586.7 MW · Lima
• Santa Rosa · Gas · 446.7 MW · Lima
• Matucana · Hydro · 120 MW · Lima
• Ventanilla · Gas · 532 MW · Lima
• Huinco · Hydro · 258.4 MW · Lima

Location

Coordinates -12.497, -76.7292 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.

Frequently asked questions