Miel I — Colombia
Hydro power plant in Caldas, Colombia. Approximate location 5.5606, -74.8866.
HydroCaldasColombiaconventional storage
Miel I is a 396 MW hydro power station in Caldas, Colombia. It is operated by Isagen S.A.. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 396k homes (estimated). It ranks #17 of 44 Colombia power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2002, it is around 24 years old — relatively modern. As a non-combustion source, it has no direct CO₂ emissions from generation. In context, hydro supplies about 69.2% 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 WRI1018573.
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 · L100000601422; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 396 MW, Miel I is below the median hydro plant in Colombia (560 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 Colombia hydro capacity
- 5.9% of 6,738 MW across 12 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 8 of 11 dated hydro 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 hydro plants in Colombia
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by Isagen S.A..
Local climate & thermal context
This hydro plant converts the energy of falling or flowing water through hydro turbines. It sits in a tropical rainforest climate (Köppen Af) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 5.6°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 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 hydro power plant of 12 in Colombia by capacity.
Colombia has 12 hydro power plants in this dataset, together about 6,738 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Termodorada power station · Gas · 50 MW · Caldas
- Guaduas power station · Coal · 300 MW · Cundinamarca
- San Carlos · Hydro · 1,240 MW · Antioquia
- Jaguas · Hydro · 170 MW · Antioquia
- La Sierra · Gas · 460 MW · Boyaca
- Central Guatapé · Hydro · 560 MW · Antioquia
Location
Coordinates 5.5606, -74.8866 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Miel I?
Miel I is a 396 MW hydro power plant in Caldas, Colombia, commissioned in 2002.
Who operates Miel I?
Miel I is operated by Isagen S.A..