Luz de Atacama power station — Chile

Luz de Atacama power station is a 1,410 MW coal power station in Antofagasta, Chile. It is operated by Luz de Atacama SpA [100%]. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 1.8 million homes (estimated). It ranks #2 of 336 Chile power plants by installed capacity. In context, coal supplies about 17.8% of Chile's electricity; the national grid averages 289 gCO₂/kWh (66.4% low-carbon) (2025).

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

Data provenance

Capacity and fuel are the upstream open-dataset record, not yet matched to a 2026 registry or GEM entry.

capacity: GEM GCPT; fuel: GEM GCPT

In context: how this plant compares

At 1,410 MW, Luz de Atacama power station is well above the median coal plant in Chile (478 MW). Technically it is described as supercritical. 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

Share of Chile coal capacity

11.3% of 12,437 MW across 22 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 coal plants in Chile

Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).

Owner

Operated by Luz de Atacama SpA [100%].

Climate zone & how it works

This coal plant burns coal to raise high-pressure steam that spins a turbine-generator. It sits in a cold desert climate (Köppen BWk) — Southern Hemisphere, latitude 24.6°S — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.

Climate zone & typical temperatures: Köppen-Geiger world climate classification (Kottek et al. 2006, 0.5° grid).

Site climate & environmental severity

This site sits in a corrosive environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C4 — High), 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 #2 largest coal power plant of 22 in Chile by capacity.

Chile has 22 coal power plants in this dataset, together about 12,437 MW of capacity.

Nearby power plants

• TALTAL · Gas · 240 MW · Antofagasta
• LALACKAMA · Solar · 71.5 MW · Antofagasta
• Lalackama II · Solar · 18 MW · Antofagasta
• AGUAS BLANCAS · Oil · 2 MW · Antofagasta
• TALTAL · Wind · 99 MW · Antofagasta
• Aguas Blancas 1 · Solar · 8.8 MW · Antofagasta

Location

Coordinates -24.6, -70.5 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.

Frequently asked questions