Doña Carmen — Chile

Doña Carmen is a 40 MW solar power plant in Valparaiso, Chile. It is operated by Energía Cerro El Morado. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 17k homes (estimated). It ranks #142 of 336 Chile power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2017, it is around 9 years old — relatively modern. As a non-combustion source, it has no direct CO₂ emissions from generation. In context, solar supplies about 25.1% 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 WKS0065460.

Data provenance

Source of the capacity and fuel values:

capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000807188; fuel: WRI GPPD

In context: how this plant compares

At 40 MW, Doña Carmen is around the median solar plant in Chile (40 MW). Technically it is described as PV. Solar PV converts sunlight directly into electricity with no moving parts or fuel; output varies by time of day and weather, so it pairs with storage or flexible backup.

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

Key facts

Share of Chile solar capacity

1.0% of 4,074 MW across 77 plants in this dataset

Age among peers

18 of 26 dated solar plants in Chile are older

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

Capacity vs largest solar plants in Chile

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

Owner

Operated by Energía Cerro El Morado.

Local climate & thermal context

This solar plant converts sunlight directly into electricity with photovoltaic panels. It sits in a warm-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen Csb) — Southern Hemisphere, latitude 32.5°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 13% 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: 45/100 — this site sits in the mid third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.

Solar PV loses ~0.35%/°C above 25°C cell temperature — roughly 0.0% at warm-season highs here (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 marine corrosion 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 #39 largest solar power plant of 77 in Chile by capacity.

Chile has 77 solar power plants in this dataset, together about 4,074 MW of capacity.

Nearby power plants

• Energía Minera power station · Coal · 1,050 MW · Valparaíso
• VENTANAS · Coal · 322 MW · Valparaiso
• CAMPICHE · Coal · 249 MW · Valparaiso
• Río Corrientes power station · Coal · 700 MW · Valparaíso
• NUEVA VENTANAS · Coal · 249 MW · Valparaiso
• QUINTERO · Oil · 248.4 MW · Valparaiso

Location

Coordinates -32.483, -71.246 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.

Frequently asked questions