Gansu Zhangye (West China Energy) power station is a 12 MW biomass power plant in Gansu Sheng, China. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 17k homes (estimated). It ranks #5949 of 6,685 China power plants by installed capacity. In context, biomass supplies about 2.0% of China's electricity; the national grid averages 525 gCO₂/kWh (41.7% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id CT-3598.
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: Climate TRACE; fuel: Climate TRACE
In context: how this plant compares
At 12 MW, Gansu Zhangye (West China Energy) power station is below the median biomass plant in China (30 MW). Biomass plants burn organic material such as wood, residues or waste-derived fuel to raise steam; they are dispatchable and counted as low-carbon where the feedstock is sustainably sourced.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
Key facts
- Share of China biomass capacity
- less than 0.1% of 30,108 MW across 981 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 biomass plants in China
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Local climate & thermal context
This biomass plant burns organic material (wood, residues) to raise steam for a turbine. It sits in a cold desert climate (Köppen BWk) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 39.1°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 67% above 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: 85/100 — this site sits in the top third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.
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 benign, low-corrosion environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C1 — Very low), 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 #791 largest biomass power plant of 981 in China by capacity.
China has 981 biomass power plants in this dataset, together about 30,108 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- GEPIC Zhangye power station · Coal · 650 MW · Gansu Sheng
- Xiaogushan · Hydro · 102 MW · Gansu Sheng
- Gansu Zhangye Shimiao Stage 2 · Hydro · 8 MW · Gansu Sheng
- Gansu Zhangye Yingke · Hydro · 7 MW · Gansu Sheng
- Ganzhou · Solar · 50 MW · Gansu Sheng
- Shandan C · Solar · 50 MW · Gansu Sheng
Location
Coordinates 39.0542, 100.4964 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Gansu Zhangye (West China Energy) power station?
Gansu Zhangye (West China Energy) power station is a 12 MW biomass power plant in Gansu Sheng, China.