Planta Tachira — Venezuela

Planta Tachira is a 247 MW gas power station in Tachira, Venezuela. Based on reported annual generation of 815 GWh, it can supply roughly 233k homes. It ranks #35 of 59 Venezuela power plants by installed capacity. In context, gas supplies about 4.5% of Venezuela's electricity; the national grid averages 86 gCO₂/kWh (91.1% low-carbon) (2024).

Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id WRI1018669.

Data provenance

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

capacity: WRI GPPD; fuel: WRI GPPD

In context: how this plant compares

At 247 MW, Planta Tachira is below the median gas plant in Venezuela (300 MW). Gas plants burn natural gas either in open-cycle turbines for fast peaking, or in combined-cycle units that recover exhaust heat in an HRSG to reach roughly 55–62% efficiency — the cleanest-burning fossil option.

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

Key facts

Load factor

38%, from 815 GWh of reported generation, in line with the 38% median for 22 gas plants in Venezuela

Share of Venezuela gas capacity

1.5% of 16,840 MW across 44 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 gas plants in Venezuela

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

Local climate & thermal context

This gas plant burns natural gas in a turbine — often in a combined-cycle setup — to generate electricity. It sits in a tropical rainforest climate (Köppen Af) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 8.2°N — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.

Monthly mean temperature

Heating degree-days here run 97% 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: 15/100 — this site sits in the bottom third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.

A gas turbine here also runs ~2% below its ISO (15°C) rating at this annual mean (typical CCGT curve, estimate).

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 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 #24 largest gas power plant of 44 in Venezuela by capacity.

Venezuela has 44 gas power plants in this dataset, together about 16,840 MW of capacity.

Nearby power plants

• Termotasajero power station · Coal · 335 MW · Norte de Santander
• Don Luis Zambrano power plant · Gas · 470 MW · Mérida
• Casigua · Gas · 83 MW · Zulia
• Leanardo Ruiz Pineda (San Agaton) · Hydro · 300 MW · Tachira
• Santa Barbara · Gas · 20 MW · Zulia
• Fabricio Ojeda (La Vueltosa) Hydroelectric Power Plant Venezuela · Hydro · 514 MW · Merida

Location

Coordinates 8.2203, -72.2439 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.

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