Cape Lambert is a 130 MW gas power station in Western Australia, Australia. It is operated by Rio Tinto Australia Pty Ltd. Based on reported annual generation of 156 GWh, it can supply roughly 45k homes. It ranks #147 of 536 Australia power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2015, it is around 11 years old — relatively modern. Its modelled annual emissions are 299,870 t CO₂/yr (Climate TRACE), equivalent to about 70k cars driven for a year. In context, gas supplies about 16.4% of Australia's electricity; the national grid averages 525 gCO₂/kWh (38.6% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id AUS0000462.
Data status
Known data
Modelled source data
Calculated from dataset
Known, modelled and calculated values are kept separate. Missing fields are shown as unavailable.
Capacity provenance
The public capacity above is a source-verified 2026 capacity claim: 130 MW for Cape Lambert power station.
GEM · 2026 · operating plant capacity
Data provenance
Source of the capacity and fuel values:
capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000407543; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 130 MW, Cape Lambert is well above the median gas plant in Australia (106 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.
~299,870 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
- Load factor
- 14%, from 156 GWh of reported generation; the median for 84 gas plants in Australia that report generation is 24%
- Share of Australia gas capacity
- 0.4% of 29,942 MW across 163 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 46 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)).
Capacity vs largest gas plants in Australia
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by Rio Tinto Australia Pty Ltd.
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 desert climate (Köppen BWh) — Southern Hemisphere, latitude 20.6°S — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.
Monthly mean temperature
This site has effectively no heating season (tropical/equatorial climate), so winter heat loss is not the driver here. The thermal concern shifts to year-round process heat and humidity/heat-driven corrosion of hot equipment.
A gas turbine here also runs ~9% 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 an aggressive, high-corrosion environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C5 — Very high), with marine salt 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 #71 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
- Karratha · Gas · 86 MW · Western Australia
- Burrup Peninsula (Karratha Gas Plant) · Gas · 240 MW · Western Australia
- Burrup Peninsula (Pluto Phase 1) · Gas · 160 MW · Western Australia
- Burrup Peninsula (Karratha Gas Plant) · Gas · 206.3 MW · Western Australia
- Yurralyi Maya (Karratha Seven Mile) · Gas · 180 MW · Western Australia
- Dampier · Gas · 120 MW · Western Australia
Location
Coordinates -20.6488, 117.1407 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Cape Lambert?
Cape Lambert is a 130 MW gas power plant in Western Australia, Australia, commissioned in 2015.
How much electricity does Cape Lambert generate?
Cape Lambert generates about 156 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates Cape Lambert?
Cape Lambert is operated by Rio Tinto Australia Pty Ltd.
How much CO₂ does Cape Lambert emit?
Cape Lambert has modelled emissions of about 299,870 tonnes of CO₂ per year (Climate TRACE).