Gara Chilar is a 130 MW hydro power station in Zangilan Rayon, Iran. It is operated by Iran Water and Power Resources Development Company. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 130k homes (estimated). It ranks #133 of 177 Iran power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2015, it is around 11 years old — relatively modern. As a non-combustion source, it has no direct CO₂ emissions from generation. In context, hydro supplies about 3.3% of Iran's electricity; the national grid averages 660 gCO₂/kWh (5.7% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id WRI1029944.
Data status
Known data
Calculated from dataset
Not available
Known, modelled and calculated values are kept separate. Missing fields are shown as unavailable.
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 130 MW, Gara Chilar is around the median hydro plant in Iran (130 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 Iran hydro capacity
- 1.2% of 10,818 MW across 19 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 17 of 19 dated hydro plants in Iran 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 Iran
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by Iran Water and Power Resources Development Company.
Local climate & thermal context
This hydro plant converts the energy of falling or flowing water through hydro turbines. It sits in a hot-summer humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 38.9°N — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.
Monthly mean temperature
Heating degree-days here run 45% above 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: 77/100 — this site sits in the top third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.
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 mild atmospheric environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C2 — Low), with humidity / wetness 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 #10 largest hydro power plant of 19 in Iran by capacity.
Iran has 19 hydro power plants in this dataset, together about 10,818 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Tatev · Hydro · 157.2 MW · Syunik'i Marz
- Shamb · Hydro · 171 MW · Syunik'i Marz
- Aras Free power station · Gas · 451 MW · East Azerbaijan
- Heris power station · Gas · 990 MW · East Azerbaijan
- Sufian · Gas · 150 MW · East Azerbaijan
- Tabriz · Oil · 800 MW · East Azerbaijan
Location
Coordinates 38.8658, 46.5308 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Gara Chilar?
Gara Chilar is a 130 MW hydro power plant in Zangilan Rayon, Iran, commissioned in 2015.
Who operates Gara Chilar?
Gara Chilar is operated by Iran Water and Power Resources Development Company.