RIO HUASCO — Chile

RIO HUASCO is a 5 MW hydro power plant in Atacama, Chile. It is operated by HIDROELECTRICA RIO HUASCO S.A.. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 5.0k homes (estimated). It ranks #266 of 336 Chile power plants by installed capacity. As a non-combustion source, it has no direct CO₂ emissions from generation. In context, hydro supplies about 22.2% 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 CHL0001111.

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 5 MW, RIO HUASCO is below the median hydro plant in Chile (12 MW). 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 Chile hydro capacity

less than 0.1% of 6,416 MW across 99 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 hydro plants in Chile

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

Owner

Operated by HIDROELECTRICA RIO HUASCO S.A..

Local climate & thermal context

This hydro plant converts the energy of falling or flowing water through hydro turbines. It sits in a cold desert climate (Köppen BWk) — Southern Hemisphere, latitude 28.7°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 7% 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: 47/100 — 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 benign, low-corrosion environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C1 — Very low), 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 #71 largest hydro power plant of 99 in Chile by capacity.

Chile has 99 hydro power plants in this dataset, together about 6,416 MW of capacity.

Nearby power plants

• Andes Vallenar power station · Gas · 540 MW · Atacama
• Maitencillo power station · Oil · 68.4 MW · Atacama
• SANTA CECILIA · Solar · 3 MW · Atacama
• El Romero · Solar · 246 MW · Atacama
• Pajonales power station · Oil · 100.8 MW · Atacama
• Valleland II+III · Solar · 60 MW · Atacama

Location

Coordinates -28.6762, -70.6451 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.

Frequently asked questions