Coolimba power station is a 450 MW coal power station in Western Australia, Australia. It is operated by Coolimba Power [100%]. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 563k homes (estimated). It ranks #53 of 536 Australia power plants by installed capacity. In context, coal supplies about 42.7% 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 GEM_coa_coolimba_austr.
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
Capacity and fuel are the upstream open-dataset record, not yet matched to a 2026 registry or GEM entry.
capacity: GEM GCPT; fuel: GEM GCPT
In context: how this plant compares
At 450 MW, Coolimba power station is below the median coal plant in Australia (700 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 Australia coal capacity
- 1.4% of 32,918 MW across 38 plants in this dataset
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 Australia
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by Coolimba Power [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 hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen Csa) — Southern Hemisphere, latitude 29.8°S — 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 #24 largest coal power plant of 38 in Australia by capacity.
Australia has 38 coal power plants in this dataset, together about 32,918 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- South Erregulla Power Plant · Gas · 85 MW · Western Australia
- Emu Downs Wind Farm · Wind · 79 MW · Western Australia
- Emu Downs · Solar · 20 MW · Western Australia
- Mumbida Wind Farm · Wind · 55 MW · Western Australia
- Greenough River Solar Farm · Solar · 47 MW · Western Australia
- Mungarra · Gas · 112 MW · Western Australia
Location
Coordinates -29.816667, 115.266667 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Coolimba power station?
Coolimba power station is a 450 MW coal power plant in Western Australia, Australia.
Who operates Coolimba power station?
Coolimba power station is operated by Coolimba Power [100%].