Combarbalá power station — Chile

Combarbalá power station is a 79.8 MW oil power plant in Coquimbo, Chile. It is operated by Prime Energia [100%]. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 60k homes (estimated). It ranks #95 of 336 Chile power plants by installed capacity. In context, oil supplies about 0.6% of Chile's electricity; the national grid averages 289 gCO₂/kWh (66.4% low-carbon) (2025).

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

Data provenance

Source of the capacity and fuel values:

capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000408566; fuel: GEM GOGPT

In context: how this plant compares

At 79.8 MW, Combarbalá power station is well above the median oil plant in Chile (11.3 MW). Technically it is described as Engine. Oil-fired plants burn heavy fuel oil or diesel, usually as peaking or backup capacity on islands and grids without gas pipelines; high fuel cost keeps their utilisation low.

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

Key facts

Share of Chile oil capacity

2.2% of 3,578 MW across 78 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 oil plants in Chile

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

Owner

Operated by Prime Energia [100%].

Climate zone & how it works

This oil plant burns oil or diesel to drive turbines or reciprocating engines. It sits in a cold semi-arid steppe climate (Köppen BSk) — Southern Hemisphere, latitude 31.1°S — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.

Climate zone & typical temperatures: Köppen-Geiger world climate classification (Kottek et al. 2006, 0.5° grid).

Site climate & environmental severity

This site sits in a benign, low-corrosion environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C1 — Very low), 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 #19 largest oil power plant of 78 in Chile by capacity.

Chile has 78 oil power plants in this dataset, together about 3,578 MW of capacity.

Nearby power plants

• SOLAR PSF LOMAS COLORADAS · Solar · 2 MW · Coquimbo
• SOLAR PSF CASAS BLANCAS · Solar · 2 MW · Coquimbo
• PUNITAQUI · Oil · 9 MW · Coquimbo
• LA PALOMA · Hydro · 5 MW · Coquimbo
• Cala Morritos power station · Oil · 200.4 MW · Coquimbo
• MONTE PATRIA · Oil · 9 MW · Coquimbo

Location

Coordinates -31.142381, -71.086316 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.

Frequently asked questions