Gualberto Hernandez — Ecuador
Oil power plant in Pichincha, Ecuador. Approximate location -0.2299, -78.525.
OilPichinchaEcuador
Gualberto Hernandez is a 34.3 MW oil power plant in Pichincha, Ecuador. It is operated by EEQ SA. Based on reported annual generation of 142 GWh, it can supply roughly 41k homes. It ranks #25 of 34 Ecuador power plants by installed capacity. In context, oil supplies about 17.9% of Ecuador's electricity; the national grid averages 159 gCO₂/kWh (79.4% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id WRI1018607.
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 34.3 MW, Gualberto Hernandez is below the median oil plant in Ecuador (96 MW). Oil-fired plants burn heavy fuel oil or diesel, usually as peaking or backup capacity on islands and grids without gas pipelines; high fuel cost keeps their utilisation low.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
Key facts
- Load factor
- 47%, from 142 GWh of reported generation
- Share of Ecuador oil capacity
- 2.8% of 1,207 MW across 14 plants in this dataset
Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).
Capacity vs largest oil plants in Ecuador
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by EEQ SA.
Local climate & thermal context
This oil plant burns oil or diesel to drive turbines or reciprocating engines. It sits in a temperate oceanic climate (Köppen Cfb) — Southern Hemisphere, latitude 0.2°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 53% 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: 28/100 — this site sits in the bottom 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 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 #13 largest oil power plant of 14 in Ecuador by capacity.
Ecuador has 14 oil power plants in this dataset, together about 1,207 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Guangopolo · Hydro · 20.9 MW · Pichincha
- Guangopolo II power station · Oil · 52.4 MW · Pichincha
- Santa Rosa · Gas · 51.3 MW · Pichincha
- Solar Connection · Solar · 20 MW · Pichincha
- Condor · Solar · 30 MW · Pichincha
- Miraflores · Oil · 52.3 MW · Pichincha
Location
Coordinates -0.2299, -78.525 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Gualberto Hernandez?
Gualberto Hernandez is a 34.3 MW oil power plant in Pichincha, Ecuador.
How much electricity does Gualberto Hernandez generate?
Gualberto Hernandez generates about 142 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates Gualberto Hernandez?
Gualberto Hernandez is operated by EEQ SA.