The Los Humeros is a key infrastructure asset in Mexico's power generation grid, located on the continent of North America. Designated as a renewable electricity generation station, the facility features an installed capacity of 68.6 MW. Its primary operation relies on harnessing geothermal energy resources to generate bulk electricity. Operational management and ownership of the facility are handled by the Comisión Federal de Electricidad, which oversees daily maintenance and grid dispatch integration. The facility was officially connected to the commercial grid in 1990, since which it has maintained regular output, playing a structured role in domestic power supply security. In terms of domestic production capacity within Mexico, Los Humeros occupies the #5 position among all operational geothermal power plants. Its 68.6 MW capacity represents a 4.36% share of Mexico's total installed geothermal generating capacity, which currently stands at 1,574 MW. The largest operational geothermal installation in Mexico is the Cerro Prieto Geothermal Power Station with an output of 570 MW, making the Los Humeros approximately 8.3 times smaller by comparison. Across all fuel types and electricity generation technologies country-wide, this facility accounts for 0.0485% of Mexico's aggregate generation capacity of 141,584 MW. Based on historical capacity factors characteristic of geothermal power plants (modeled at 80% for analysis), the facility's expected annual electricity generation is calculated at approximately 480,749 MWh. Applying domestic consumption statistics where an average household in Mexico consumes 3 MWh of electricity annually, this level of production is sufficient to meet the energy demands of roughly 160,250 homes. As a clean and sustainable energy project, Los Humeros contributes to the direct displacement of greenhouse gases, preventing substantial quantities of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere and helping Mexico advance toward its renewable energy integration targets. The physical site of the station is located at geographic coordinates 19.6465° latitude and -97.4375° longitude. Analysis of local grid infrastructure shows a density of other assets within a 50-kilometer radius. These nearby facilities include the Mazatepec hydroelectric power station (hydroelectric, 220 MW), the Mazatepec hydroelectric power station (hydroelectric, 220 MW), the Central hidroectrica Mazatepec (hydroelectric, 220 MW), representing a cluster of localized power assets. This geographic placement is vital for reinforcing regional distribution infrastructure and minimizing transmission line losses across this sector of Mexico.
36 years old
Mexico, North America
Location
Zero Direct Emissions
Los Humeros is a geothermal power plant producing approximately 481 GWh of clean electricity per year with zero direct CO₂ emissions during operation.
Lifecycle emissions: ~38 g CO₂/kWh (manufacturing, transport, decommissioning)
Technical Details
- Primary Fuel Type
- Geothermal
- Energy Source
- Renewable
- Country
Mexico- Continent
- North America
- Data Source
- Global Power Plant Database
Nearby Power Plants
Understanding Geothermal Power Generation: An Overview
Geothermal power generation harnesses the Earth's internal heat to produce electricity. This renewable energy source exploits the thermal energy stored beneath the Earth's crust, which can be accessed through geothermal power plants. These plants typically utilize steam or hot water from geothermal reservoirs to drive turbines that generate electricity. The process begins by drilling wells into geothermal reservoirs, often located in tectonically active regions, where the temperature gradient is favorable for energy extraction. The steam or hot water extracted is then channeled to turbines, converting thermal energy into mechanical energy, which is subsequently transformed into electrical energy by generators.
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