# El Salvador Power & Grid Engineering Profile

> Preliminary country engineering reference. Connection voltage, short-circuit duty, earthing and regulatory approval require current project-specific confirmation from the local TSO/DSO.

**Canonical:** https://voltformer.com/country-profile/el-salvador - markdown: https://voltformer.com/country-profile/el-salvador.md - ISO: SV

## Electrical system

- Frequency: 60 Hz
- Transmission voltage candidates: 230, 115 kV
- Distribution voltage candidates: 23, 13.2, 4.16 kV
- Low-voltage candidates: 480, 240, 208, 120 V
- Typical vector groups: Dyn1, Dyn11, Yyn0
- Typical tap range: ±2x2.5%

## Power quality and grid operating limits

- Normal frequency operational tolerance: ±0.2 Hz
- Steady-state voltage tolerance: ±5 %
- Maximum continuous THD-V at MV PCC: ≤ 5 %
- Maximum negative sequence voltage unbalance: ≤ 2 %
- Grid code power factor range at PCC: 0.90 cap - 0.95 ind

## Substation short-circuit and earthing

- Typical MV bus symmetrical fault rating: 20 kA RMS (1s / 3s)
- Typical HV substation breaking capacity: 40 kA RMS
- MV neutral earthing regime: solid
- LV customer earthing system: multiple-earthed-neutral-MEN

## Dielectric insulation coordination

- MV Lightning Impulse Withstand (BIL): 95 kV peak (1.2/50 µs)
- MV Power Frequency Withstand (1 min): 34 kV RMS (50/60 Hz)
- Minimum specific creepage distance (SPS): 31 mm/kV phase-to-phase
- IEC 60815 pollution severity classification: Class IV (Very Heavy)

## Electromechanical and environmental design

- Design peak ground acceleration (PGA): 0.4 g (IEEE 693 / Eurocode 8)
- Basic design wind speed: 35 m/s (~126 km/h)
- Substation acoustic noise limit at 1m: ≤ 58 dBA
- Extreme minimum design ambient temperature: 15 °C
- Maximum 24-hour daily average ambient temperature: 32 °C
- Maximum solar radiation heat flux: 1100 W/m²
- Atmospheric corrosivity category (ISO 12944-2): C4 (High)
- MV bushing connector interface standard: IEEE 386 / ANSI C57.12.00

## Standards and efficiency

- Standards/codes: IEEE C57.12, SIGET Regulations, SIEPAC Code, NEC (NFPA 70)
- Regulatory standard code: IEEE C57.12 / SIGET Standards
- Benchmark minimum efficiency (PEI / 1000 kVA): 99.4 %
- Regulatory enforcement: mandatory
- Efficiency regulation notes: SIGET Regulations & SIEPAC Regional Interconnection Standards

## Grid energy economics and carbon intensity

- Benchmark industrial electricity tariff: $0.158 / kWh (TCO capitalized loss A & B factor evaluation)
- Grid carbon emission intensity: 220 g CO2eq/kWh (Scope 2 lifecycle emissions assessment)
- National renewable energy share: 71.4 % (grid inertia & inverter-based resource impact)
- Primary official statistical source: ETESAL / UT / SIGET

## Advanced engineering calculation parameters

- Substation network X/R ratio: 8.5 (IEC 60909 fault impedance modeling)
- Dynamic peak short-circuit factor (κ per IEC 60909): 1.71 (ip = κ · √2 · Ik'' electrodynamic force)
- Regional reference apparent soil resistivity (ρ): 220 Ω·m (IEEE 80 / IEC 61936-1 substation earthing)
- Recommended transformer harmonic K-factor rating: K-4 (ANSI/IEEE C57.110 eddy derating)

## Official public regulatory and grid authorities

- [ETESAL - Empresa de Transmisión Eléctrica de El Salvador](https://www.etesal.com.sv) (transmission-operator)
- [SIGET - Superintendencia General de Electricidad y Telecomunicaciones](https://www.siget.gob.sv) (energy-regulator)

## Grid operators

- ETESAL
- CAESS
- DELSUR
- CLESA
- EEO

## Climate design reference

- Reference ambient: 40 °C
- Maximum design ambient: 45 °C
- Standard altitude basis: 1000 m
- Notes: Major geothermal generation (Ahuachapán, Berlín - H2S gas corrosion), Pacific volcanic seismic belt (PGA 0.40g).

## Typical applications

- Ahuachapán Geothermal Power Plant Generation Step-Up Transformers
- SIEPAC 230 kV Central American Grid Interconnection Substations

## Safe project candidates

- Nominal voltage candidates: 23, 13.2, 4.16, 230, 115 kV
- LV utilization-voltage candidates (line-to-line and/or line-to-neutral; confirm the transformer's rated terminal voltage and phase configuration): 480, 240, 208, 120 V
- Vector group candidates: Dyn1, Dyn11, Yyn0
- Automatic nominal voltage: withheld - point of connection required

## Mandatory project verification

- pointOfConnectionVoltage
- prospectiveShortCircuitCurrent
- systemEarthingAndNeutral
- insulationCoordination
- protectionCoordination
- powerQualityAndHarmonics
- siteAmbientAndAltitude
- seismicWindPollution
- utilityApproval

Machine data: https://voltformer.com/api/v1/countries/SV - all profiles: https://voltformer.com/country-grid-standards.json - grid checker: https://voltformer.com/grid-standards