Hydropower, Pueblo Nuevo Viñas, Guatemala
Goal of the project is to provide Guatemala with clean, reliable and renewable energy by using the water of the Aguacapa River, two francis turbines and two 4.16 kV synchronic generators. In the first project phase the hydroelectric plant had a capacity of 8.2 MW which was increased up to 14.5 MW by now. It is a run-of-river hydro power plant with a small diversion and reservoir to divert and hold water for short times during dry months in order to guarantee generation. The plant is operated by Papeles Elaborados S.A. The project mitigates CO2-emissions by reducing the demand for energy that is generated from fossil fuels. The country’s power grid is currently highly dependent on energy from oil, coal and diesel.





Hydropower plants use the energy of water to generate electricity. The energy is harnessed by passing water through a turbine. Under the pressure of the water, the turbine turns and transfers this energy to a generator, which converts kinetic energy into electricity. This principle applies to all types of hydroelectric power plants: from small run-of-river power plants to pumped-storage power plants on bodies of water like lakes. In many parts of the world, electricity is still primarily generated from fossil fuels. Clean hydropower can replace some of this emission-intensive energy and thus verifiably save carbon emissions. In most hydropower projects, the electricity is fed into a regional power grid, diversifying the energy supply and improving energy security in areas affected by power shortages and blackouts. Often, these projects also create jobs for the local population. Hydropower projects thus make an important contribution to clean energy supply as well as contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Hydopower projects in the ClimatePartner portfolio are registered with international standards.
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