Barcelona Cartonboard power station is a 46 MW gas power plant in Catalonia, Spain. It is operated by RDM Barcelona Cartonboard SAU. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 52k homes (estimated). It ranks #317 of 899 Spain power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1998, it is around 28 years old — long-established. Its modelled annual emissions are 40,413 t CO₂/yr (Climate TRACE), equivalent to about 9.4k cars driven for a year. In context, gas supplies about 21.6% of Spain's electricity; the national grid averages 154 gCO₂/kWh (74.6% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id CT-277.
Data status
Known data
Modelled source data
Calculated from dataset
Not available
Known, modelled and calculated values are kept separate. Missing fields are shown as unavailable.
Data provenance
Source of the capacity and fuel values:
capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000400656; fuel: Climate TRACE
In context: how this plant compares
At 46 MW, Barcelona Cartonboard power station is below the median gas plant in Spain (54 MW). Technically it is described as CCGT; combined-cycle with a heat-recovery steam generator (HRSG). 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.
~40,413 t CO₂/yr (modelled) — in everyday terms
This facility's annual emissions are roughly equivalent to:
Equivalencies via US EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies; modelled emissions from Climate TRACE.
Key facts
- Share of Spain gas capacity
- 0.1% of 32,018 MW across 95 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 11 of 83 dated gas plants in Spain 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 Spain
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by RDM Barcelona Cartonboard SAU.
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 hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen Csa) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 41.5°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 41% 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: 33/100 — this site sits in the bottom third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.
A gas turbine here also runs ~0% 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 corrosive environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C4 — High), with marine corrosion 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 #57 largest gas power plant of 95 in Spain by capacity.
Spain has 95 gas power plants in this dataset, together about 32,018 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Seat al Sol · Solar · 11 MW · Catalonia
- Martorell Seat power station · Gas · 25 MW · Barcelona
- VERTEDERO DEL GARRAF · Waste · 12.4 MW · Catalonia
- PUERTO DE BARCELONA GRUPO 2 · Gas · 866.3 MW · Catalonia
- BESOS GRUPO 5 · Gas · 1,670.8 MW · Catalonia
- Pobla De Claramunt power station · Gas · 33 MW · Catalonia
Location
Coordinates 41.4642, 1.9557 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Barcelona Cartonboard power station?
Barcelona Cartonboard power station is a 46 MW gas power plant in Catalonia, Spain, commissioned in 1998.
Who operates Barcelona Cartonboard power station?
Barcelona Cartonboard power station is operated by RDM Barcelona Cartonboard SAU.
How much CO₂ does Barcelona Cartonboard power station emit?
Barcelona Cartonboard power station has modelled emissions of about 40,413 tonnes of CO₂ per year (Climate TRACE).