Kainan is a 2,100 MW oil power station in Wakayama, Japan. It is operated by Kansai. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 1.6 million homes (estimated). It ranks #28 of 692 Japan power plants by installed capacity. In context, oil supplies about 2.5% of Japan's electricity; the national grid averages 477 gCO₂/kWh (32.7% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id WRI1000648.
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
Source of the capacity and fuel values:
capacity: Wikidata P2109; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 2,100 MW, Kainan is well above the median oil plant in Japan (1,000 MW). Oil-fired plants burn heavy fuel oil or diesel, usually as peaking or backup capacity on islands and grids without gas pipelines; high fuel cost keeps their utilisation low.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
Key facts
- Share of Japan oil capacity
- 4.3% of 48,987 MW across 41 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 oil plants in Japan
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by Kansai. All plants by this company →
Local climate & thermal context
This oil plant burns oil or diesel to drive turbines or reciprocating engines. It sits in a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 34.2°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 26% 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: 40/100 — this site sits in the mid 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 #7 largest oil power plant of 41 in Japan by capacity.
Japan has 41 oil power plants in this dataset, together about 48,987 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Wakayama · Gas · 147 MW · Wakayama
- Wakayama · Solar · 24 MW · Wakayama
- Misaki Solar Power Plant · Solar · 10 MW · Wakayama
- Miyami A · Solar · 25 MW · Wakayama
- Tanagawa Daini · Oil · 1,200 MW · Wakayama
- Hirokawa-Hidakagawa · Wind · 20 MW · Wakayama
Location
Coordinates 34.152, 135.1876 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Kainan?
Kainan is a 2,100 MW oil power plant in Wakayama, Japan.
Who operates Kainan?
Kainan is operated by Kansai.