Liddell is a 2,051 MW coal power station in New South Wales, Australia. It is operated by Macquarie Generation. Based on reported annual generation of 8,519 GWh, it can supply roughly 2.4 million homes. It ranks #3 of 536 Australia power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1971, it is around 55 years old — an older, legacy facility. Its modelled annual emissions are 43,527 t CO₂/yr (Climate TRACE), equivalent to about 10k 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 AUS0000280.
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: Wikidata P2109; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 2,051 MW, Liddell 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.
~43,527 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
- 47%, from 8,519 GWh of reported generation; the median for 19 coal plants in Australia that report generation is 67%
- Generation trend
- 6,577 GWh in 2013 and 8,519 GWh in 2018 (+30%)
- Highest and lowest year
- 2017: 9,510 GWh; 2013: 6,577 GWh
- Share of Australia coal capacity
- 6.2% of 32,918 MW across 38 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 8 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 Macquarie Generation.
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 32.4°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 69% 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: 24/100 — 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 #3 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
- Liddell Solar Thermal · Solar · 9.3 MW · New South Wales
- Hunter Valley · Gas · 50 MW · New South Wales
- Bayswater · Coal · 2,665 MW · New South Wales
- Glennies Creek · Gas · 13 MW · New South Wales
- Redbank · Coal · 150 MW · New South Wales
- Glenbawn · Hydro · 5.8 MW · New South Wales
Location
Coordinates -32.3713, 150.9776 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Liddell?
Liddell is a 2,051 MW coal power plant in New South Wales, Australia, commissioned in 1971.
How much electricity does Liddell generate?
Liddell generates about 8,519 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates Liddell?
Liddell is operated by Macquarie Generation.
How much CO₂ does Liddell emit?
Liddell has modelled emissions of about 43,527 tonnes of CO₂ per year (Climate TRACE).