Ilo 1 — Peru

Ilo 1 is a 132 MW coal power station in Moquegua, Peru. It is operated by Energía del Sur S.A.. Based on reported annual generation of 62 GWh, it can supply roughly 18k homes. It ranks #23 of 40 Peru power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1999, it is around 27 years old — long-established. In context, coal supplies about 0.0% of Peru's electricity; the national grid averages 238 gCO₂/kWh (63.6% low-carbon) (2025).

Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id WRI1022047.

Data provenance

Source of the capacity and fuel values:

capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000103158; fuel: WRI GPPD

In context: how this plant compares

Technically it is described as subcritical. Coal plants burn pulverised coal to raise high-pressure steam for a turbine; they run as baseload but are the most carbon-intensive mainstream source and the first targeted for retirement or efficiency retrofits.

Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.

Key facts

Load factor

5%, from 62 GWh of reported generation

Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).

Owner

Operated by Energía del Sur S.A..

Local climate & thermal context

This coal plant burns coal to raise high-pressure steam that spins a turbine-generator. It sits in a hot desert climate (Köppen BWh) — Southern Hemisphere, latitude 17.8°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 91% 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: 17/100 — 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 an aggressive, high-corrosion environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C5 — Very high), with marine salt corrosion 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

Peru has 1 coal power plant in this dataset, together about 132 MW of capacity.

Nearby power plants

• Reserva Fria Ilo · Gas · 569 MW · Moquegua
• Ilo 2 · Gas · 135 MW · Moquegua
• Panamericana · Solar · 22 MW · Moquegua
• Moquegua · Solar · 16 MW · Moquegua
• Rubi · Solar · 144.5 MW · Moquegua
• Tacna · Solar · 22 MW · Tacna

Location

Coordinates -17.7762, -71.1896 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.

Frequently asked questions