Reserva Fria Ilo — Peru

Reserva Fria Ilo is a 569 MW gas power station in Moquegua, Peru. It is operated by Energía del Sur S.A.. Based on reported annual generation of 35 GWh, it can supply roughly 10k homes. It ranks #6 of 40 Peru power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2013, it is around 13 years old — relatively modern. In context, gas supplies about 36.1% of Peru's electricity; the national grid averages 238 gCO₂/kWh (63.6% low-carbon) (2025).

Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id WRI1022046.

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 569 MW, Reserva Fria Ilo is well above the median gas plant in Peru (360.8 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

1%, from 35 GWh of reported generation; the median for 8 gas plants in Peru that report generation is 62%

Share of Peru gas capacity

9.3% of 6,118 MW across 16 plants in this dataset

Age among peers

7 of 15 dated gas plants in Peru are older

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 Peru

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

Owner

Operated by Energía del Sur S.A..

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 hot desert climate (Köppen BWh) — Southern Hemisphere, latitude 17.8°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 91% 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: 17/100 — this site sits in the bottom third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.

A gas turbine here also runs ~3% 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 an aggressive, high-corrosion environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C5 — Very high), with marine salt corrosion 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 #5 largest gas power plant of 16 in Peru by capacity.

Peru has 16 gas power plants in this dataset, together about 6,118 MW of capacity.

Nearby power plants

• Ilo 2 · Gas · 135 MW · Moquegua
• Ilo 1 · Coal · 132 MW · Moquegua
• Panamericana · Solar · 22 MW · Moquegua
• Moquegua · Solar · 16 MW · Moquegua
• Rubi · Solar · 144.5 MW · Moquegua
• Tacna · Solar · 22 MW · Tacna

Location

Coordinates -17.7772, -71.1871 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.

Frequently asked questions