Sibo — Guatemala
Solar power plant in Zacapa, Guatemala. Approximate location 14.98, -89.651.
SolarZacapaGuatemalaPV
Sibo is a 5 MW solar power plant in Zacapa, Guatemala. It is operated by Scati. Based on reported annual generation of 9 GWh, it can supply roughly 2.5k homes. It ranks #68 of 77 Guatemala power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2014, it is around 12 years old — relatively modern. As a non-combustion source, it has no direct CO₂ emissions from generation. In context, solar supplies about 1.8% of Guatemala's electricity; the national grid averages 301 gCO₂/kWh (68.3% low-carbon) (2024).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id WRI1029289.
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 · L100000807709; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
Technically it is described as PV. Solar PV converts sunlight directly into electricity with no moving parts or fuel; output varies by time of day and weather, so it pairs with storage or flexible backup.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
Key facts
- Load factor
- 20%, from 9 GWh of reported generation
- Share of Guatemala solar capacity
- 4.3% of 115 MW across 3 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 solar plants in Guatemala
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by Scati.
Local climate & thermal context
This solar plant converts sunlight directly into electricity with photovoltaic panels. It sits in a tropical savanna climate (Köppen Aw) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 15.0°N — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.
Monthly mean temperature
This site has effectively no heating season (tropical/equatorial climate), so winter heat loss is not the driver here. The thermal concern shifts to year-round process heat and humidity/heat-driven corrosion of hot equipment.
Solar PV loses ~0.35%/°C above 25°C cell temperature — roughly 0.9% at warm-season highs here (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 moderately corrosive environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C3 — Medium), 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 #3 largest solar power plant of 3 in Guatemala by capacity.
Guatemala has 3 solar power plants in this dataset, together about 115 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Pasabien · Hydro · 12.8 MW · Zacapa
- Candelaria · Hydro · 4.6 MW · Alta Verapaz
- Secacao · Hydro · 16.5 MW · Alta Verapaz
- San Isidro · Hydro · 3.9 MW · Baja Verapaz
- Choloma · Hydro · 9.7 MW · Alta Verapaz
- Matanzas · Hydro · 12 MW · Baja Verapaz
Location
Coordinates 14.98, -89.651 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Sibo?
Sibo is a 5 MW solar power plant in Zacapa, Guatemala, commissioned in 2014.
How much electricity does Sibo generate?
Sibo generates about 9 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates Sibo?
Sibo is operated by Scati.