World Power Plants

Potrerillos120 MW Hydroelectric

HydroRenewableVerified: Feb 2026

Potrerillos is a 120 MW hydroelectric power plant located in Argentina, commissioned in 1998. It generates electricity using hydro power and is operated by an unspecified entity. Potrerillos ranks as the 37th largest hydro plant in Argentina. With a capacity of 120 MW, it represents 0.4% of Argentina's total hydro capacity of 30,334 MW. Argentina has 111 hydro plants with a combined capacity of 30,334 MW. Compared to the largest hydro plant in the country, the Corpus Christi Dam at 3,800 MW, Potrerillos is about one-thirtieth the size. Hydropower is a significant component of Argentina's energy mix, contributing approximately 43% of the country's total electricity generation. The plant utilizes the region's river systems, which are abundant in water resources, to produce energy. Potrerillos is situated approximately 1,000 km west of Buenos Aires in the Mendoza Province.

Capacity
120 MW
Commissioning Year
1998

28 years old

Owner
Energía del Sur S.A.
Location
-32.9950°, -69.1258°

Argentina, South America

Context & rankings
  • 110. largest of 368 plants in Argentina
  • #9,239 worldwide by installed capacity
  • #2,039 of 8,493 Hydroelectric plants worldwide
  • 0.17% of the installed capacity of Argentina
Age & fleet comparison

28 years in operation

Hydroelectric fleet average: 42.1 years

Operator portfolio

Energía del Sur S.A. operates 13 plants totalling 3,746 MW

Regional density

11 plants within 100 km, 905 MW combined

Nearest plant: CACHEUTA (NUEVA) (4 km)

Data provenance

Source: Wikidata

Location

Coordinates:: -32.995000, -69.125833
Open in Google Maps
Carbon Footprint

Zero Direct Emissions

Potrerillos is a hydro power plant producing approximately 420 GWh of clean electricity per year with zero direct CO₂ emissions during operation.

Lifecycle emissions: ~24 g CO₂/kWh (manufacturing, transport, decommissioning)

Technical Details

Primary Fuel Type
Hydro
Energy Source
Renewable
Country
Argentina
Continent
South America
Data Source
Global Power Plant Database

ArgentinaEnergy Profile

368
Total Plants
70.2 GW
Total Capacity
HydroGasCoalNuclear
Top Fuels

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