Carrico Refinery power station is a 32 MW gas power plant in Leiria, Portugal. It is operated by Carriço Cogeração Sociedade de Geração de Electricidade e Calor SA [100%]. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 36k homes (estimated). It ranks #80 of 480 Portugal power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2009, it is around 17 years old — relatively modern. In context, gas supplies about 16.4% of Portugal's electricity; the national grid averages 128 gCO₂/kWh (81.0% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id GOGPT_carricorefinery_portug.
Data status
Known 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 · L100000407837; fuel: GEM GOGPT
In context: how this plant compares
At 32 MW, Carrico Refinery power station is below the median gas plant in Portugal (80 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.
Key facts
- Share of Portugal gas capacity
- 0.7% of 4,359 MW across 13 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 5 of 12 dated gas plants in Portugal 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 Portugal
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by Carriço Cogeração Sociedade de Geração de Electricidade e Calor SA [100%].
Climate zone & how it works
This gas plant burns natural gas in a turbine — often in a combined-cycle setup — to generate electricity. It sits in a warm-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen Csb) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 40.0°N — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.
Climate zone & typical temperatures: Köppen-Geiger world climate classification (Kottek et al. 2006, 0.5° grid).
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 #12 largest gas power plant of 13 in Portugal by capacity.
Portugal has 13 gas power plants in this dataset, together about 4,359 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Cogeração Celbi · Biomass · 70 MW · Coimbra
- Termoeléctrica da Figueira da Foz · Biomass · 34.3 MW · Coimbra
- Cogeração da Figueira da Foz (Lavos) · Biomass · 95 MW · Coimbra
- Figueira da Foz Industrial Complex power station · Gas · 67 MW · Coimbra
- Norte (ETAR) · Waste · 1.4 MW · Leiria
- Lares · Gas · 826 MW · Coimbra
Location
Coordinates 39.98321, -8.85129 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Carrico Refinery power station?
Carrico Refinery power station is a 32 MW gas power plant in Leiria, Portugal, commissioned in 2009.
Who operates Carrico Refinery power station?
Carrico Refinery power station is operated by Carriço Cogeração Sociedade de Geração de Electricidade e Calor SA [100%].