Gladstone is a 1,680 MW coal power station in Queensland, Australia. It is operated by GPS Joint Venture. Based on reported annual generation of 8,975 GWh, it can supply roughly 2.6 million homes. It ranks #6 of 536 Australia power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1976, it is around 50 years old — long-established. Its modelled annual emissions are 6,320,800 t CO₂/yr (Climate TRACE), equivalent to about 1.5 million cars driven for a year. 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 AUS0000158.
Data status
Known data
Modelled source data
Calculated from dataset
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 · L100000100017; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 1,680 MW, Gladstone is well above the median coal plant in Australia (700 MW). Technically it is described as subcritical. 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.
~6,320,800 t CO₂/yr (modelled) — in everyday terms
This facility's annual emissions are roughly equivalent to:
Equivalencies via US EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies; modelled emissions from Climate TRACE.
Key facts
- Load factor
- 61%, from 8,975 GWh of reported generation; the median for 19 coal plants in Australia that report generation is 67%
- Generation trend
- 6,252 GWh in 2013 and 8,975 GWh in 2018 (+44%)
- Highest and lowest year
- 2018: 8,975 GWh; 2013: 6,252 GWh
- Share of Australia coal capacity
- 5.1% of 32,918 MW across 38 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 10 of 28 dated coal plants in Australia 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 GPS Joint Venture.
Local climate & thermal context
This coal plant burns coal to raise high-pressure steam that spins a turbine-generator. It sits in a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) — Southern Hemisphere, latitude 23.9°S — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.
Monthly mean temperature
Heating degree-days here run 97% 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: 14/100 — this site sits in the bottom 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 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 #5 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
Location
Coordinates -23.8508, 151.2187 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Gladstone?
Gladstone is a 1,680 MW coal power plant in Queensland, Australia, commissioned in 1976.
How much electricity does Gladstone generate?
Gladstone generates about 8,975 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates Gladstone?
Gladstone is operated by GPS Joint Venture.
How much CO₂ does Gladstone emit?
Gladstone has modelled emissions of about 6,320,800 tonnes of CO₂ per year (Climate TRACE).