NUEVA RENCA — Chile

NUEVA RENCA is a 379 MW oil power station in Santiago Metropolitan, Chile. It is operated by SOC. ELECTRICA SANTIAGO S.A.. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 285k homes (estimated). It ranks #26 of 336 Chile power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1997, it is around 29 years old — long-established. In context, oil supplies about 0.6% 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 CHL0000102.

Data provenance

Source of the capacity and fuel values:

capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000406561; fuel: WRI GPPD

In context: how this plant compares

At 379 MW, NUEVA RENCA is well above the median oil plant in Chile (11.3 MW). Technically it is described as CCGT; combined-cycle with a heat-recovery steam generator (HRSG). Oil-fired plants burn heavy fuel oil or diesel, usually as peaking or backup capacity on islands and grids without gas pipelines; high fuel cost keeps their utilisation low.

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

Key facts

Share of Chile oil capacity

10.6% of 3,578 MW across 78 plants in this dataset

Age among peers

1 of 19 dated oil plants in Chile is older

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

Capacity vs largest oil plants in Chile

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

Owner

Operated by SOC. ELECTRICA SANTIAGO S.A..

Local climate & thermal context

This oil plant burns oil or diesel to drive turbines or reciprocating engines. It sits in a warm-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen Csb) — Southern Hemisphere, latitude 33.4°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 43% 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: 32/100 — 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 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 #1 largest oil power plant of 78 in Chile by capacity.

Chile has 78 oil power plants in this dataset, together about 3,578 MW of capacity.

Nearby power plants

• RENCA · Oil · 92 MW · Santiago Metropolitan
• FLORIDA · Hydro · 28 MW · Santiago Metropolitan
• CMPC Cordillera power station · Gas · 51.9 MW · Región Metropolitana de Santiago
• AUXILIAR DEL MAIPO (CAEMSA) · Hydro · 5 MW · Santiago Metropolitan
• LOS BAJOS · Hydro · 6 MW · Santiago Metropolitan
• LOS MORROS · Hydro · 3 MW · Santiago Metropolitan

Location

Coordinates -33.4184, -70.687 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.

Frequently asked questions