Esti Hydroelectric Power Plant Panama

Esti Hydroelectric Power Plant Panama is a 120 MW hydro power station in Chiriqui, Panama. It is operated by AES Panamá SRL [100%]. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 120k homes (estimated). It ranks #9 of 21 Panama power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1999, it is around 27 years old — long-established. As a non-combustion source, it has no direct CO₂ emissions from generation. In context, hydro supplies about 53.1% of Panama's electricity; the national grid averages 221 gCO₂/kWh (68.0% low-carbon) (2024).

Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id GEODB0043519.

Data provenance

Source of the capacity and fuel values:

capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000603070; fuel: WRI GPPD

In context: how this plant compares

At 120 MW, Esti Hydroelectric Power Plant Panama is around the median hydro plant in Panama (120 MW). Technically it is described as run-of-river. Hydropower converts the energy of falling or flowing water into electricity; output depends on rainfall and reservoir level, and large dams also provide grid balancing and storage.

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

Key facts

Share of Panama hydro capacity

11.3% of 1,062 MW across 8 plants in this dataset

Age among peers

4 of 6 dated hydro plants in Panama are older

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

Capacity vs largest hydro plants in Panama

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

Owner

Operated by AES Panamá SRL [100%].

Local climate & thermal context

This hydro plant converts the energy of falling or flowing water through hydro turbines. It sits in a tropical rainforest climate (Köppen Af) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 8.5°N — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.

Monthly mean temperature

This site has effectively no heating season (tropical/equatorial climate), so winter heat loss is not the driver here. The thermal concern shifts to year-round process heat and humidity/heat-driven corrosion of hot equipment.

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 an aggressive, high-corrosion environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C5 — Very high), with marine salt 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 #4 largest hydro power plant of 8 in Panama by capacity.

Panama has 8 hydro power plants in this dataset, together about 1,062 MW of capacity.

Nearby power plants

• Edwin Fabrega (Fortuna) Hydroelectric Power Plant Panama · Hydro · 300 MW · Chiriqui
• Los Valles Hydroelectric Power Plant Panama · Hydro · 54.8 MW · Chiriqui
• La Estrella Hydroelectric Power Plant Panama · Hydro · 47.2 MW · Chiriqui
• Changuinola I Hydroelectric Power Plant Panama · Hydro · 221 MW · Bocas del Toro
• Ingenio · Solar · 10 MW · Cocle
• Divisa Solar · Solar · 9.9 MW · Cocle

Location

Coordinates 8.543, -82.298 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.

Frequently asked questions