Cercs power station is a 160 MW coal power station in Barcelona, Spain. It is operated by E.ON SE [100%]. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 200k homes (estimated). It ranks #107 of 899 Spain power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1971, it is around 55 years old — an older, legacy facility. In context, coal supplies about 0.3% 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 GEM_coa_cercs_spain.
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: Wikidata P2109; fuel: GEM GCPT
In context: how this plant compares
At 160 MW, Cercs power station is below the median coal plant in Spain (515.6 MW). Coal plants burn pulverised coal to raise high-pressure steam for a turbine; they run as baseload but are the most carbon-intensive mainstream source and the first targeted for retirement or efficiency retrofits.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
Key facts
- Share of Spain coal capacity
- 1.3% of 12,360 MW across 24 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 3 of 23 dated coal 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 coal plants in Spain
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by E.ON SE [100%].
Climate zone & how it works
This coal plant burns coal to raise high-pressure steam that spins a turbine-generator. It sits in a temperate oceanic climate (Köppen Cfb) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 42.2°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 a moderately corrosive environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C3 — Medium), with humidity / wetness 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 #20 largest coal power plant of 24 in Spain by capacity.
Spain has 24 coal power plants in this dataset, together about 12,360 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- SERRA DE VILOBI · Wind · 40.5 MW · Catalonia
- Porta · Hydro · 1.2 MW · Encamp
- SERRA DEL TALLAT · Wind · 49.5 MW · Catalonia
- Fontpédrouse · Hydro · 10 MW · Catalonia
- ARTIES 1 · Hydro · 67.5 MW · Catalonia
- La Llagonne · Hydro · 9.1 MW · Catalonia
Location
Coordinates 42.175702, 1.856814 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Cercs power station?
Cercs power station is a 160 MW coal power plant in Barcelona, Spain, commissioned in 1971.
Who operates Cercs power station?
Cercs power station is operated by E.ON SE [100%].