CRUZ DE PIEDRA — Argentina

CRUZ DE PIEDRA is a 17.9 MW gas power plant in Mendoza, Argentina. It is operated by CT MENDOZA SA. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 20k homes (estimated). It ranks #175 of 275 Argentina power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1969, it is around 57 years old — an older, legacy facility. 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 ARG0000197.

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 17.9 MW, CRUZ DE PIEDRA is below the median gas plant in Argentina (125 MW). 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

less than 0.1% of 22,760 MW across 95 plants in this dataset

Age among peers

1 of 63 dated gas plants in Argentina 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 Argentina

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

Owner

Operated by CT MENDOZA SA.

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 33.0°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 44% 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: 32/100 — this site sits in the bottom third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.

A gas turbine here also runs ~1% 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 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 #91 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

• Luján de Cuyo II power station · Gas · 105 MW · Mendoza
• GENERAL SAN MARTIN · Hydro · 6 MW · Mendoza
• LUJAN DE CUYO · Gas · 521 MW · Mendoza
• ALVAREZ CONDARCO · Hydro · 50.7 MW · Mendoza
• CACHEUTA (NUEVA) · Hydro · 120 MW · Mendoza
• EL CARRIZAL · Hydro · 17 MW · Mendoza

Location

Coordinates -33.0349, -68.7971 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.

Frequently asked questions