Pajonales power station — Chile

Pajonales power station is a 100.8 MW oil power station in Atacama, Chile. It is operated by Prime Energia [100%]. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 76k homes (estimated). It ranks #75 of 336 Chile power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2021, it is around 5 years old — recently built. 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 GOGPT_pajonales_chile.

Data provenance

Source of the capacity and fuel values:

capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000408573; fuel: GEM GOGPT

In context: how this plant compares

At 100.8 MW, Pajonales power station is well above the median oil plant in Chile (11.3 MW). Technically it is described as Engine. 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

2.8% of 3,578 MW across 78 plants in this dataset

Age among peers

15 of 19 dated oil plants in Chile are 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 Prime Energia [100%].

Local climate & thermal context

This oil plant burns oil or diesel to drive turbines or reciprocating engines. It sits in a cold desert climate (Köppen BWk) — Southern Hemisphere, latitude 29.1°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 4% above 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: 52/100 — this site sits in the mid 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 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 #13 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

• El Romero · Solar · 246 MW · Atacama
• SANTA CECILIA · Solar · 3 MW · Atacama
• PUNTA COLORADA · Oil · 16.6 MW · Coquimbo
• PUNTA COLORADA · Wind · 20 MW · Coquimbo
• El Pelícano · Solar · 100.8 MW · Coquimbo
• Cruz Grande power station · Coal · 300 MW · Coquimbo

Location

Coordinates -29.113888, -70.914304 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.

Frequently asked questions