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Braemar 1 — Australia

Gas power plant in Queensland, Australia. Approximate location -27.1109, 150.9053.

GasQueenslandAustraliaOCGT

Braemar 1 is a 504 MW gas power station in Queensland, Australia. It is operated by Alinta Energy. Based on reported annual generation of 424 GWh, it can supply roughly 121k homes. It ranks #42 of 536 Australia power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2006, it is around 20 years old — relatively modern. In context, gas supplies about 16.4% of Australia's electricity; the national grid averages 525 gCO₂/kWh (38.6% low-carbon) (2025).

504MW installed capacity
424GWh reported / yr
121,257homes powered
2006commissioned (~20 yrs)

Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id AUS0000152.

Data status

Known data

FacilityBraemar 1 WRI
CountryAustralia · Queensland WRI
Coordinates-27.1109, 150.9053 WRI
FuelGas WRI
MW installed capacity504 MW GEM · 2026 · L100000405104; part of a generating complex
Verification noteQuality label backfilled from existing source-backed capacity provenance on 2026-07-05; capacity value was not changed. source-verified
OwnerAlinta Energy WRI
Commissioned2006 WRI
TechnologyOCGT WRI
GWh reported / yr424 GWh·a⁻¹ WRI

Calculated from dataset

CO₂ emissions169,760 t CO₂·a⁻¹ calculated
Capacity rank in country#42 / 536 calculated
Fuel-specific rank in country#17 / 163 calculated
Capacity vs country/fuel peers4.75× · 106 MW · n=163 calculated
Homes-powered equivalent121,257 calculated from reported generation
Climate18.7°C · HDD 687 derived from coordinates
Environmental severityC3 · 34/100 derived from coordinates

Known, modelled and calculated values are kept separate. Missing fields are shown as unavailable.

Capacity provenance

The public capacity above is the current source-record value. A 2026 tracker candidate lists 564 MW for Braemar 1 power station, but it is not used as the public primary value until scope is verified (unit vs operating vs installed/project total).

Data provenance

Source of the capacity and fuel values:

capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000405104; fuel: WRI GPPD

In context: how this plant compares

At 504 MW, Braemar 1 is well above the median gas plant in Australia (106 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

Load factor
10%, from 424 GWh of reported generation; the median for 84 gas plants in Australia that report generation is 24%
Generation trend
1,549 GWh in 2013 and 424 GWh in 2018 (−73%)
Highest and lowest year
2015: 2,197 GWh; 2018: 424 GWh
Share of Australia gas capacity
1.7% of 29,942 MW across 163 plants in this dataset
Age among peers
20 of 59 dated gas plants in Australia are older

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

Reported generation trend

2013: 1,549 GWh20132014: 1,631 GWh20142015: 2,197 GWh20152016: 1,264 GWh20162017: 650 GWh20172018: 424 GWh20182k GWh

Annual generation (GWh), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).

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 humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) — Southern Hemisphere, latitude 27.1°S — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.

18.7°Cannual mean temp
687heating degree-days (base 18°C)
947cooling degree-days (base 18°C)
360 melevation

Monthly mean temperature

J: 25 °CJF: 24 °CFM: 23 °CMA: 19 °CAM: 16 °CMJ: 12 °CJJ: 11 °CJA: 13 °CAS: 16 °CSO: 20 °CON: 22 °CND: 24 °CD25 °C

Heating degree-days here run 72% 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: 23/100 — this site sits in the bottom third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.

A gas turbine here also runs ~3% 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 moderately corrosive environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C3 — Medium), with humidity / wetness the leading environmental stress.

C3ISO 9223 corrosivity (indicative)
34/100environmental-severity index
13.8°Cseasonal temperature swing
276 kmdistance to coast

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 #17 largest gas power plant of 163 in Australia by capacity.

Australia has 163 gas power plants in this dataset, together about 29,942 MW of capacity.

Nearby power plants

Location

Coordinates -27.1109, 150.9053 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.

Frequently asked questions

What type of power plant is Braemar 1?

Braemar 1 is a 504 MW gas power plant in Queensland, Australia, commissioned in 2006.

How much electricity does Braemar 1 generate?

Braemar 1 generates about 424 GWh of electricity per year.

Who operates Braemar 1?

Braemar 1 is operated by Alinta Energy.

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