Xacbal — Guatemala

Xacbal is a 97 MW hydro power plant in Quiche, Guatemala. It is operated by Grupo Terra SA de CV [100%]. Based on reported annual generation of 370 GWh, it can supply roughly 106k homes. It ranks #10 of 77 Guatemala power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2010, it is around 16 years old — relatively modern. As a non-combustion source, it has no direct CO₂ emissions from generation. In context, hydro supplies about 39.9% 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 WRI1061413.

Data provenance

Source of the capacity and fuel values:

capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000601775; fuel: WRI GPPD

In context: how this plant compares

At 97 MW, Xacbal is well above the median hydro plant in Guatemala (12.8 MW). Technically it is described as run-of-river. 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

44%, from 370 GWh of reported generation; the median for 24 hydro plants in Guatemala that report generation is 39%

Share of Guatemala hydro capacity

9.7% of 1,003 MW across 30 plants in this dataset

Age among peers

21 of 30 dated hydro plants in Guatemala 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 Guatemala

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

Owner

Operated by Grupo Terra SA de CV [100%].

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 15.6°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 88% 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: 18/100 — 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 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 30 in Guatemala by capacity.

Guatemala has 30 hydro power plants in this dataset, together about 1,003 MW of capacity.

Nearby power plants

• Palo Viejo · Hydro · 87 MW · Quiche
• Vision de Aguila · Hydro · 2.1 MW · Alta Verapaz
• Chixoy · Hydro · 300 MW · Alta Verapaz
• Renace · Hydro · 68.1 MW · Alta Verapaz
• Zunil · Geothermal · 28.6 MW · Quetzaltenango
• Santa Teresa · Hydro · 17 MW · Baja Verapaz

Location

Coordinates 15.62, -91.085 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.

Frequently asked questions