Tarpein-1 — Myanmar

Tarpein-1 is a 240 MW hydro power station in Yunnan, Myanmar. It is operated by Datang (Yunnan) United Hydropower Developing Company Ltd [85%]; Department of Hy. Based on reported annual generation of 1,065 GWh, it can supply roughly 304k homes. It ranks #30 of 69 Myanmar power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2011, it is around 15 years old — relatively modern. As a non-combustion source, it has no direct CO₂ emissions from generation. In context, hydro supplies about 46.1% of Myanmar's electricity; the national grid averages 503 gCO₂/kWh (47.9% low-carbon) (2024).

Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id WRI1061368.

Data provenance

Source of the capacity and fuel values:

capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000602519; fuel: WRI GPPD

In context: how this plant compares

At 240 MW, Tarpein-1 is well above the median hydro plant in Myanmar (60 MW). 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

Load factor

51%, from 1,065 GWh of reported generation, in line with the 50% median for 18 hydro plants in Myanmar

Share of Myanmar hydro capacity

8.8% of 2,725 MW across 20 plants in this dataset

Age among peers

15 of 20 dated hydro plants in Myanmar are 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 Myanmar

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

Owner

Operated by Datang (Yunnan) United Hydropower Developing Company Ltd [85%]; Department of Hy.

Local climate & thermal context

This hydro plant converts the energy of falling or flowing water through hydro turbines. It sits in a subtropical highland climate (Köppen Cwb) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 24.4°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 85% 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: 19/100 — this site sits in the bottom 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 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 #4 largest hydro power plant of 20 in Myanmar by capacity.

Myanmar has 20 hydro power plants in this dataset, together about 2,725 MW of capacity.

Nearby power plants

• Yingjiang County Gulikahe · Hydro · 12 MW · Yunnan
• Yunnan Dayingjiang 2nd Tier · Hydro · 70 MW · Yunnan
• Nanpian River · Hydro · 5 MW · Yunnan
• Yunnan Dehong Yingjiang Nabang · Hydro · 180 MW · Yunnan
• Yunnan Yingjiang Zuanshui River · Hydro · 14 MW · Yunnan
• Yunnan Ruili power station · Biomass · 15 MW · Yunnan

Location

Coordinates 24.42, 97.525 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.

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