La Sierra — Colombia
Gas power plant in Boyaca, Colombia. Approximate location 6.2345, -74.5614.
GasBoyacaColombiaCCGT · HRSG
La Sierra is a 460 MW gas power station in Boyaca, Colombia. It is operated by EPM. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 518k homes (estimated). It ranks #14 of 44 Colombia power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2001, it is around 25 years old — relatively modern. In context, gas supplies about 13.8% 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 WRI1018572.
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 · L100000406577; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 460 MW, La Sierra is well above the median gas plant in Colombia (241 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.
Key facts
- Share of Colombia gas capacity
- 5.3% of 8,721 MW across 20 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 6 of 18 dated gas 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 gas plants in Colombia
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by EPM.
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 tropical rainforest climate (Köppen Af) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 6.2°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.
A gas turbine here also runs ~9% 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 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 #7 largest gas power plant of 20 in Colombia by capacity.
Colombia has 20 gas power plants in this dataset, together about 8,721 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Termoberrío power station · Gas · 700 MW · Santander
- San Carlos · Hydro · 1,240 MW · Antioquia
- Termocentro · Gas · 300 MW · Antioquia
- Jaguas · Hydro · 170 MW · Antioquia
- Central Guatapé · Hydro · 560 MW · Antioquia
- Miel I · Hydro · 396 MW · Caldas
Location
Coordinates 6.2345, -74.5614 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is La Sierra?
La Sierra is a 460 MW gas power plant in Boyaca, Colombia, commissioned in 2001.
Who operates La Sierra?
La Sierra is operated by EPM.