Yanacachi Norte Hydroelectric Power Plant Bolivia

Yanacachi Norte Hydroelectric Power Plant Bolivia is a 51.1 MW hydro power plant in La Paz, Bolivia. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 51k homes (estimated). It ranks #13 of 30 Bolivia power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2002, it is around 24 years old — relatively modern. As a non-combustion source, it has no direct CO₂ emissions from generation. In context, hydro supplies about 27.9% of Bolivia's electricity; the national grid averages 481 gCO₂/kWh (36.1% low-carbon) (2025).

Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id GEODB0044752.

Data provenance

Source of the capacity and fuel values:

capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100001022874; fuel: WRI GPPD

In context: how this plant compares

At 51.1 MW, Yanacachi Norte Hydroelectric Power Plant Bolivia is well above the median hydro plant in Bolivia (30 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 Bolivia hydro capacity

11.0% of 463 MW across 14 plants in this dataset

Age among peers

3 of 5 dated hydro plants in Bolivia 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 Bolivia

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

Local climate & thermal context

This hydro plant converts the energy of falling or flowing water through hydro turbines. It sits in a temperate oceanic climate (Köppen Cfb) — Southern Hemisphere, latitude 16.4°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 93% 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: 16/100 — 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 #3 largest hydro power plant of 14 in Bolivia by capacity.

Bolivia has 14 hydro power plants in this dataset, together about 463 MW of capacity.

Nearby power plants

• Chojlla Hydroelectric Power Plant Bolivia · Hydro · 38.4 MW · La Paz
• Zongo Hydroelectric Power Plant Bolivia · Hydro · 11 MW · La Paz
• Huaji Hydroelectric Power Plant Bolivia · Hydro · 34 MW · La Paz
• Tiquimani Hydroelectric Power Plant Bolivia · Hydro · 9.6 MW · La Paz
• Harca Hydroelectric Power Plant Bolivia · Hydro · 30 MW · La Paz
• Cahua Hydroelectric Power Plant Bolivia · Hydro · 30 MW · La Paz

Location

Coordinates -16.3887, -67.7373 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.

Frequently asked questions