A massive pipeline structure belonging to the Ortitlan Power Plant is seen running down the slopes of the Pacaya volcano towards the village of San Francisco de Sales. The Ortitlan geothermal power plant in Guatemala is a 25 Megawatt (a power unit equal to one million watts) geothermal power plant located in the slopes of the Pacaya Volcano, in Amatitlan, Guatemala. It is one of two geothermal plants operating in Guatemala, alongside the Zunil plant. Ortitlan generates electricity using the Earth's geothermal energy, providing a low-carbon source of power for the country's grid. It produces electricity using geothermal energy, which is generated by tapping into the Earth's heat. Basically, the power plant harnesses the heat energy generated by the Pacaya Volcano, from steam and water trapped beneath it, and using it to generate electricity. This geothermal energy provides an alternative to fossil fuel power. Pacaya is an active complex volcano, which first erupted approximately 23,000 years ago and has erupted at least 23 times since the Spanish conquest of Guatemala. It rises to an elevation of 2,552 metres (8,373 ft). After being dormant for over 70 years, it began erupting vigorously in 1961 and has been erupting frequently since then. Much of its activity is Strombolian, but occasionally Plinian eruptions also occur, sometimes showering the area of the nearby Departments with ash. In total Guatemala is the home to 37 official volcanoes, three of them being in constant activity: Pacaya, Fuego and Santiaguito.
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