KAKRAPARA is a 1,840 MW nuclear power station in Gujarat, India. It is operated by Nuclear Power Corporation Of India Ltd [100%]. Based on reported annual generation of 881 GWh, it can supply roughly 252k homes. It ranks #143 of 2,225 India power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1993, it is around 33 years old — long-established. As a non-combustion source, it has no direct CO₂ emissions from generation. In context, nuclear supplies about 2.6% of India's electricity; the national grid averages 670 gCO₂/kWh (26.7% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id IND0000173.
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 1,840 MW for Kakrapar nuclear power plant, 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 · L100000500044; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 1,840 MW, KAKRAPARA is around the median nuclear plant in India (1,840 MW). Technically it is described as pressurized heavy water reactor. Nuclear plants split uranium to raise steam with no direct CO₂; they run as steady baseload with very high capacity factors and the longest operating lifetimes of any thermal plant.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
Key facts
- Load factor
- 5%, from 881 GWh of reported generation; the median for 6 nuclear plants in India that report generation is 73%
- Generation trend
- 3,155 GWh in 2014 and 881 GWh in 2018 (−72%)
- Highest and lowest year
- 2014: 3,155 GWh; 2018: 881 GWh
- Share of India nuclear capacity
- 4.1% of 44,940 MW across 17 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 3 of 13 dated nuclear plants in India 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 Nuclear Power Corporation Of India Ltd [100%].
Local climate & thermal context
This nuclear plant uses heat from nuclear fission to raise steam for a turbine-generator. It sits in a tropical savanna climate (Köppen Aw) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 21.2°N — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.
Monthly mean temperature
This site has effectively no heating season (tropical/equatorial climate), so winter heat loss is not the driver here. The thermal concern shifts to year-round process heat and humidity/heat-driven corrosion of hot equipment.
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 #9 largest nuclear power plant of 17 in India by capacity.
India has 17 nuclear power plants in this dataset, together about 44,940 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- UKAI_Coal · Coal · 1,110 MW · Gujarat
- Ukai Thermal Power Station · Coal · 1,110 MW · Gujarat
- UKAI_Hydro · Hydro · 300 MW · Gujarat
- UKAI LBC · Hydro · 5 MW · Gujarat
- Surat Lignite Power Plant · Coal · 500 MW · Gujarat
- SURAT LIG. · Coal · 500 MW · Gujarat
Location
Coordinates 21.2384, 73.3489 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is KAKRAPARA?
KAKRAPARA is a 1,840 MW nuclear power plant in Gujarat, India, commissioned in 1993.
How much electricity does KAKRAPARA generate?
KAKRAPARA generates about 881 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates KAKRAPARA?
KAKRAPARA is operated by Nuclear Power Corporation Of India Ltd [100%].