Hidalgo Energy Center — United States of America
Gas power plant in Texas, United States of America. Approximate location 26.3417, -98.1758.
GasTexasUnited States of AmericaCCGT · HRSGCO₂ measured
Hidalgo Energy Center is a 551.3 MW gas power station in Texas, United States of America. It is operated by Calpine Corp - Hidalgo. Based on reported annual generation of 2,722 GWh, it can supply roughly 778k homes. It ranks #1146 of 10,884 United States of America power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2000, it is around 26 years old — long-established. Its annual emissions of 1,062,228 t CO₂/yr (US EPA GHGRP) are equivalent to about 248k cars driven for a year. In context, gas supplies about 40.0% of United States of America's electricity; the national grid averages 384 gCO₂/kWh (43.0% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id USA0055545.
Data status
Known data
Calculated from dataset
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 · L100000401537; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 551.3 MW, Hidalgo Energy Center is well above the median gas plant in United States of America (121.2 MW). Technically it is described as CCGT; combined-cycle with a heat-recovery steam generator (HRSG). Gas plants burn natural gas either in open-cycle turbines for fast peaking, or in combined-cycle units that recover exhaust heat in an HRSG to reach roughly 55–62% efficiency — the cleanest-burning fossil option.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
1,062,228 t CO₂/yr — in everyday terms
This facility's annual emissions are roughly equivalent to:
Equivalencies via US EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies; emissions per US EPA GHGRP (measured for US EPA/EU ETS, modelled for Climate TRACE).
Key facts
- Load factor
- 56%, from 2,722 GWh of reported generation; the median for 1622 gas plants in United States of America that report generation is 26%
- Generation trend
- 2,183 GWh in 2013 and 2,722 GWh in 2019 (+25%)
- Highest and lowest year
- 2015: 2,820 GWh; 2014: 1,571 GWh
- Share of United States of America gas capacity
- less than 0.1% of 789,950 MW across 2,165 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 872 of 1,973 dated gas plants in United States of America are older
Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).
Reported generation trend
Annual generation (GWh), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by Calpine Corp - Hidalgo.
Local climate & thermal context
This gas plant burns natural gas in a turbine — often in a combined-cycle setup — to generate electricity. It sits in a hot semi-arid steppe climate (Köppen BSh) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 26.3°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 92% 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: 16/100 — this site sits in the bottom third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.
A gas turbine here also runs ~6% below its ISO (15°C) rating at this annual mean (typical CCGT curve, estimate).
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 benign, low-corrosion environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C1 — Very low), with dust abrasion 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 #539 largest gas power plant of 2165 in United States of America by capacity.
United States of America has 2165 gas power plants in this dataset, together about 789,950 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Magic Valley Generating Station · Gas · 801 MW · Texas
- Red Gate Power Plant · Gas · 224.4 MW · Texas
- Frontera Energy Center · Gas · 529 MW · Texas
- Hidalgo Wind Farm LLC · Wind · 250 MW · Texas
- Rio Grande Valley Sugar Growers · Waste · 24.9 MW · Texas
- Los Vientos V Wind Power · Wind · 110 MW · Texas
Location
Coordinates 26.3417, -98.1758 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Hidalgo Energy Center?
Hidalgo Energy Center is a 551.3 MW gas power plant in Texas, United States of America, commissioned in 2000.
How much electricity does Hidalgo Energy Center generate?
Hidalgo Energy Center generates about 2,722 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates Hidalgo Energy Center?
Hidalgo Energy Center is operated by Calpine Corp - Hidalgo.
How much CO₂ does Hidalgo Energy Center emit?
Hidalgo Energy Center has measured emissions of about 1,062,228 tonnes of CO₂ per year (US EPA GHGRP).