Shamb is a 171 MW hydro power station in Syunik'i Marz, Armenia. It is operated by Ministry of Energy an Natural Resources. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 171k homes (estimated). It ranks #8 of 11 Armenia power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1978, it is around 48 years old — long-established. As a non-combustion source, it has no direct CO₂ emissions from generation. In context, hydro supplies about 28.0% of Armenia's electricity; the national grid averages 212 gCO₂/kWh (65.9% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id WRI1019030.
Data status
Known data
Calculated from dataset
Not available
Known, modelled and calculated values are kept separate. Missing fields are shown as unavailable.
Data provenance
Source of the capacity and fuel values:
capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000600047; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
Technically it is described as conventional storage. 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 Armenia hydro capacity
- 17.7% of 965 MW across 4 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 1 of 3 dated hydro plants in Armenia is older
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 Armenia
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by Ministry of Energy an Natural Resources.
Local climate & thermal context
This hydro plant converts the energy of falling or flowing water through hydro turbines. It sits in a warm-summer humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 39.5°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 57% 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: 82/100 — this site sits in the top 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 mild atmospheric environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C2 — Low), 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 #2 largest hydro power plant of 4 in Armenia by capacity.
Armenia has 4 hydro power plants in this dataset, together about 965 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Tatev · Hydro · 157.2 MW · Syunik'i Marz
- Spandaryan · Hydro · 76 MW · Syunik'i Marz
- Nakhchivan power station · Gas · 87 MW · Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic
- Aras Free power station · Gas · 451 MW · East Azerbaijan
- Gara Chilar · Hydro · 130 MW · Zangilan Rayon
- Sufian · Gas · 150 MW · East Azerbaijan
Location
Coordinates 39.4743, 46.1306 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Shamb?
Shamb is a 171 MW hydro power plant in Syunik'i Marz, Armenia, commissioned in 1978.
Who operates Shamb?
Shamb is operated by Ministry of Energy an Natural Resources.