Operational Performance of ATRIA ENERGIA S.A.C.'s Micro-Hydroelectric Plant: Daily Generation Analysis

Arellanos-Tafur E. · Proceedings of the LACCEI international Multi-conference for Engineering, Education and Technology (2026) · DOI: 10.18687/laccei2026.1.1.1015

Resumen

This study presents a detailed analysis of the operational performance of ATRIA ENERGIA S.A.C.'s Purmacana micro-hydroelectric plant, based on 165 days of daily generation records from June 1, 2024, to May 31, 2025, with January 2025 excluded due to data unavailability. The 1.8 MW facility, located in Supe district, Barranca province, Lima department, Peru, demonstrates highly variable operational characteristics with pronounced seasonal fluctuations. Daily energy production ranged from 0.10 MWh to 14.90 MWh, averaging 6.07 MWh with a standard deviation of 3.67 MWh (coefficient of variation: 60.5%). The plant achieved an actual capacity factor of 14.1%, substantially lower than the theoretical 71.3%. Monthly analysis revealed peak performance during October-November (19.7%-24.6% capacity factor) and minimum performance during February-April, with capacity factors of 7.3%, 6.4%, and 6.5%, respectively, reflecting coastal Peru's hydrological patterns. Performance distribution analysis showed that 62.4% of operations fell within normal parameters (µ ± σ), 17.6% exceeded high-performance thresholds, and 20.0% experienced low-performance conditions; notably, 29 high-performance days contributed 34.2% of total energy. The projected annual generation of 2.22 GWh-extrapolated from 165 operational days-falls significantly below the expected 9 GWh, representing only 24.7% of theoretical output; whether this gap reflects structural hydrological constraints, extended maintenance, or data collection limitations could not be conclusively determined and requires dedicated investigation. These findings provide critical insights for renewable energy planning and performance validation in Peru's coastal region, particularly for facilities operating under the RER framework.

Instituciones: Universidad Continental