Gilgel Gibe III is a 1,870 MW hydro power station in Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region, Ethiopia. It is operated by Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP). Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 1.9 million homes (estimated). It ranks #1 of 15 Ethiopia 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 96.5% of Ethiopia's electricity; the national grid averages 23 gCO₂/kWh (100.0% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id WRI1022986.
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 · L100000601594; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 1,870 MW, Gilgel Gibe III is well above the median hydro plant in Ethiopia (153 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 Ethiopia hydro capacity
- 49.2% of 3,797 MW across 11 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 10 of 11 dated hydro plants in Ethiopia 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 Ethiopia
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP).
Local climate & thermal context
This hydro plant converts the energy of falling or flowing water through hydro turbines. It sits in a tropical savanna climate (Köppen Aw) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 6.8°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 11 in Ethiopia by capacity.
Ethiopia has 11 hydro power plants in this dataset, together about 3,797 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Gilgel Gibe II · Hydro · 420 MW · Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region
- Gilgel Gibe I · Hydro · 184 MW · Oromiya
- Yayu power station · Coal · 90 MW · Oromia
Location
Coordinates 6.8482, 37.3018 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Gilgel Gibe III?
Gilgel Gibe III is a 1,870 MW hydro power plant in Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region, Ethiopia, commissioned in 2015.
Who operates Gilgel Gibe III?
Gilgel Gibe III is operated by Ethiopian Electric Power (EEP).