CTCC ESCOMBRERAS is a 815.6 MW gas power station in Murcia, Spain. It is operated by IBERDROLA GENERACION S.A.. Based on reported annual generation of 1,084 GWh, it can supply roughly 310k homes. It ranks #32 of 899 Spain power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2006, it is around 20 years old — relatively modern. In context, gas supplies about 21.6% 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 WRI1006415.
Data status
Known data
Calculated from dataset
Not available
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 1,249 MW for Cartagena (Escombreras) 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 · L100000400662; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 815.6 MW, CTCC ESCOMBRERAS is well above the median gas plant in Spain (54 MW). 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
- 15%, from 1,084 GWh of reported generation, in line with the 15% median for 24 gas plants in Spain
- Generation trend
- 370 GWh in 2015 and 1,084 GWh in 2017 (+193%)
- Highest and lowest year
- 2017: 1,084 GWh; 2015: 370 GWh
- Share of Spain gas capacity
- 2.5% of 32,018 MW across 95 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 43 of 83 dated gas plants in Spain are older
Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).
Reported generation trend
Annual generation (GWh), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by IBERDROLA GENERACION S.A.. All plants by this company →
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 cold semi-arid steppe climate (Köppen BSk) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 37.6°N — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.
Monthly mean temperature
Heating degree-days here run 61% 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: 26/100 — this site sits in the bottom third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.
A gas turbine here also runs ~2% 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 corrosive environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C4 — High), with dust abrasion 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 #14 largest gas power plant of 95 in Spain by capacity.
Spain has 95 gas power plants in this dataset, together about 32,018 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- CARTAGENA GRUPO 1 · Gas · 1,248.8 MW · Murcia
- Cartagena (Escombreras) power station · Gas · 1,248.7 MW · Murcia
- El Fangal power station · Gas · 1,199 MW · Murcia
- CT ESCOMBRERAS 5 · Oil · 537.3 MW · Murcia
- Ecocarburantes Españoles power station · Gas · 22 MW · Murcia
- ECOCARBURANTES · Gas · 21.7 MW · Murcia
Location
Coordinates 37.5732, -0.9392 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is CTCC ESCOMBRERAS?
CTCC ESCOMBRERAS is a 815.6 MW gas power plant in Murcia, Spain, commissioned in 2006.
How much electricity does CTCC ESCOMBRERAS generate?
CTCC ESCOMBRERAS generates about 1,084 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates CTCC ESCOMBRERAS?
CTCC ESCOMBRERAS is operated by IBERDROLA GENERACION S.A..