El Salvador's EDP Power Plant Delivers Significant Savings and Environmental Benefits

Pedro Espinola Special Correspondent

mesa.entrada@senatur.gov.py | 2025-01-25 12:44:40


San Salvador, El Salvador – Energía del Pacífico (EDP), a privately-owned liquefied natural gas (LNG) power generation project, has announced substantial savings for Salvadoran consumers and significant environmental benefits since its inception in 2022.

In its latest report, EDP revealed that it generated a total savings of $134 million in electricity rates for Salvadorans in 2024 alone, bringing the cumulative savings to $421 million since its operations began. The company estimates that this translates to an average saving of $43 per megawatt-hour (MWh).

As the largest and most efficient thermal power plant in El Salvador, with a capacity of 380 megawatts (MW), EDP operated at a remarkable availability of over 97% in 2024. It generated more than 2,127 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of electricity and supplied over 30% of the country's energy demand.

One of the key features of EDP's efficient design is its combined cycle system, which includes 19 chimneys, each generating an additional 28 megawatts. These chimneys convert water into steam, powering a turbine to produce electricity. This innovative approach has allowed EDP to flexibly adjust its output from a minimum of 9 MW to a maximum of 380 MW, complementing the country's renewable energy sources.

By reducing the nation's reliance on electricity imports, EDP has positioned El Salvador as a net exporter of energy, with over 186 GWh exported in 2024. Additionally, the plant has prevented an estimated 4.1 million tons of CO2 from entering the atmosphere, contributing significantly to environmental sustainability.

José Sarmiento, EDP's country manager, highlighted the project's dual benefits of providing substantial savings to consumers and promoting a cleaner energy matrix. “Since 2022, we have become the largest power plant and the most efficient thermal plant in the electric system. Energía del Pacífico has the capacity to generate from 9 MW to 380 MW, which complements very well the renewable energy of the country. When there is little renewable energy, EDP generates more, and that is one of the advantages of the project that maximizes the use of renewables,” he explained.

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