Merowe is a 1,250 MW hydro power station in Northern State, Sudan. It is operated by Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources [100%]. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 1.3 million homes (estimated). It ranks #1 of 22 Sudan power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2009, it is around 17 years old — relatively modern. As a non-combustion source, it has no direct CO₂ emissions from generation. In context, hydro supplies about 77.9% of Sudan's electricity; the national grid averages 154 gCO₂/kWh (79.7% low-carbon) (2024).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id WRI1023179.
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 · L100000603409; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 1,250 MW, Merowe is well above the median hydro plant in Sudan (15.2 MW). Technically it is described as conventional storage. Hydropower converts the energy of falling or flowing water into electricity; output depends on rainfall and reservoir level, and large dams also provide grid balancing and storage.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
Key facts
- Share of Sudan hydro capacity
- 79.6% of 1,571 MW across 5 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 hydro plants in Sudan
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources [100%].
Local climate & thermal context
This hydro plant converts the energy of falling or flowing water through hydro turbines. It sits in a hot desert climate (Köppen BWh) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 18.7°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.
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 #1 largest hydro power plant of 5 in Sudan by capacity.
Sudan has 5 hydro power plants in this dataset, together about 1,571 MW of capacity.
Location
Coordinates 18.6667, 32.05 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Merowe?
Merowe is a 1,250 MW hydro power plant in Northern State, Sudan, commissioned in 2009.
Who operates Merowe?
Merowe is operated by Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources [100%].