Gavio — Colombia
Hydro power plant in Cundinamarca, Colombia. Approximate location 4.7247, -73.4831.
HydroCundinamarcaColombiaconventional storage
Gavio is a 1,250 MW hydro power station in Cundinamarca, Colombia. It is operated by Emgesa. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 1.3 million homes (estimated). It ranks #2 of 44 Colombia power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1990, it is around 36 years old — long-established. As a non-combustion source, it has no direct CO₂ emissions from generation. In context, hydro supplies about 69.2% of Colombia's electricity; the national grid averages 187 gCO₂/kWh (77.0% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id WRI1018568.
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
Source of the capacity and fuel values:
capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000601414; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 1,250 MW, Gavio is well above the median hydro plant in Colombia (560 MW). Technically it is described as conventional storage. 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 Colombia hydro capacity
- 18.6% of 6,738 MW across 12 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 6 of 11 dated hydro plants in Colombia 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 Colombia
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by Emgesa.
Local climate & thermal context
This hydro plant converts the energy of falling or flowing water through hydro turbines. It sits in a tropical monsoon climate (Köppen Am) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 4.7°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 a moderately corrosive environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C3 — Medium), 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 #1 largest hydro power plant of 12 in Colombia by capacity.
Colombia has 12 hydro power plants in this dataset, together about 6,738 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Chivor · Hydro · 1,000 MW · Boyaca
- Termozipa Corral power station · Coal · 226 MW · Cundinamarca
- Termopaipa power station · Coal · 343 MW · Boyaca
- Termoyopal power station · Gas · 150 MW · Casanare
- Termoberrío power station · Gas · 700 MW · Santander
- Termocentro · Gas · 300 MW · Antioquia
Location
Coordinates 4.7247, -73.4831 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Gavio?
Gavio is a 1,250 MW hydro power plant in Cundinamarca, Colombia, commissioned in 1990.
Who operates Gavio?
Gavio is operated by Emgesa.