Grahamstown — South Africa
Biomass power plant in Eastern Cape, South Africa. Approximate location -33.315, 26.4908.
BiomassEastern CapeSouth Africa
Grahamstown is a 3.5 MW biomass power plant in Eastern Cape, South Africa. It is operated by Nollen Group. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 4.8k homes (estimated). It ranks #149 of 152 South Africa power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2013, it is around 13 years old — relatively modern. In context, biomass supplies about 0.2% of South Africa's electricity; the national grid averages 699 gCO₂/kWh (17.8% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id WRI1026028.
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: WRI GPPD; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 3.5 MW, Grahamstown is below the median biomass plant in South Africa (19 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 South Africa biomass capacity
- 1.0% of 350 MW across 14 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 South Africa
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by Nollen Group.
Local climate & thermal context
This biomass plant burns organic material (wood, residues) to raise steam for a turbine. It sits in a temperate oceanic climate (Köppen Cfb) — Southern Hemisphere, latitude 33.3°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 83% 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: 19/100 — 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 a corrosive environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C4 — High), 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 #14 largest biomass power plant of 14 in South Africa by capacity.
South Africa has 14 biomass power plants in this dataset, together about 350 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Waainek Wind Farm · Wind · 23 MW · Eastern Cape
- Amakhala Emoyeni Wind Farm · Wind · 131.05 MW · Eastern Cape
- Cookhouse · Wind · 139 MW · Eastern Cape
- Coega power station · Gas · 3,000 MW · Eastern Cape
- Dedisa power station · Oil · 335 MW · Eastern Cape
- Coega IDZ Windfarm · Wind · 73.8 MW · Eastern Cape
Location
Coordinates -33.315, 26.4908 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Grahamstown?
Grahamstown is a 3.5 MW biomass power plant in Eastern Cape, South Africa, commissioned in 2013.
Who operates Grahamstown?
Grahamstown is operated by Nollen Group.