Balkanabat OCGT Power Plant Turkmenistan

Balkanabat OCGT Power Plant Turkmenistan is a 174 MW gas power station in Balkan, Turkmenistan. It is operated by Turkmenenergo [100%]. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 196k homes (estimated). It ranks #13 of 15 Turkmenistan power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2010, it is around 16 years old — relatively modern. In context, gas supplies about 100.0% of Turkmenistan's electricity; the national grid averages 1,306 gCO₂/kWh (0.0% low-carbon) (2024).

Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id GEODB0041741.

Data provenance

Capacity and fuel are the upstream open-dataset record, not yet matched to a 2026 registry or GEM entry.

capacity: WRI GPPD; fuel: WRI GPPD

In context: how this plant compares

At 174 MW, Balkanabat OCGT Power Plant Turkmenistan is below the median gas plant in Turkmenistan (254 MW). Technically it is described as OCGT. Gas plants burn natural gas either in open-cycle turbines for fast peaking, or in combined-cycle units that recover exhaust heat in an HRSG to reach roughly 55–62% efficiency — the cleanest-burning fossil option.

Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.

Key facts

Share of Turkmenistan gas capacity

2.0% of 8,772 MW across 13 plants in this dataset

Age among peers

5 of 13 dated gas plants in Turkmenistan are older

Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).

Capacity vs largest gas plants in Turkmenistan

Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).

Owner

Operated by Turkmenenergo [100%].

Local climate & thermal context

This gas plant burns natural gas in a turbine — often in a combined-cycle setup — to generate electricity. It sits in a cold desert climate (Köppen BWk) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 39.5°N — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.

Monthly mean temperature

Heating degree-days here run 31% below the median power plant in this dataset — a proxy for how much extra energy heated equipment must replace through its surfaces in winter.

Climate heat-demand index: 38/100 — this site sits in the mid third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.

A gas turbine here also runs ~2% below its ISO (15°C) rating at this annual mean (typical CCGT curve, estimate).

Climate normals: WorldClim 2.1 (1970–2000 monthly normals, 10 arc-min, CC BY 4.0); zone: Köppen-Geiger world climate classification (Kottek et al. 2006, 0.5° grid). Degree-days & heat-demand index computed by PowerAtlas — a modelled heat-demand proxy, not a measured site figure.

Site climate & environmental severity

This site sits in a benign, low-corrosion environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C1 — Very low), with dust abrasion the leading environmental stress.

Indicative estimate via the ISO 9223:2012 informative method (atmospheric corrosivity from temperature, time-of-wetness and airborne salinity), using WorldClim climate normals, the Köppen-Geiger class and coast distance. Indicative, not a measured corrosion rate.

How it compares & nearby plants

The #11 largest gas power plant of 13 in Turkmenistan by capacity.

Turkmenistan has 13 gas power plants in this dataset, together about 8,772 MW of capacity.

Nearby power plants

• Balkan power station · Gas · 1,574 MW · Balkan
• Turkmenbashi Oil Refinery OCGT Power Plant Turkmenistan · Gas · 126 MW · Balkan
• Turkmenbashi Heat and Power Plant Turkmenistan · Oil · 590 MW · Balkan
• Avazin power station · Gas · 254 MW · Balkan

Location

Coordinates 39.5105, 54.3273 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.

Frequently asked questions