Loy Yang B — Australia

Loy Yang B is a 1,026 MW coal power station in Victoria, Australia. It is operated by IPM Australia Limited. Based on reported annual generation of 8,870 GWh, it can supply roughly 2.5 million homes. It ranks #15 of 536 Australia power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1993, it is around 33 years old — long-established. 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 AUS0000075.

Data provenance

Source of the capacity and fuel values:

capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000100036; fuel: WRI GPPD

In context: how this plant compares

At 1,026 MW, Loy Yang B 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.

Key facts

Load factor

99%, from 8,870 GWh of reported generation; the median for 19 coal plants in Australia that report generation is 67%

Generation trend

8,591 GWh in 2013 and 8,870 GWh in 2018 (+3%)

Highest and lowest year

2018: 8,870 GWh; 2014: 7,307 GWh

Share of Australia coal capacity

3.1% of 32,918 MW across 38 plants in this dataset

Age among peers

17 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 IPM Australia Limited.

Local climate & thermal context

This coal plant burns coal to raise high-pressure steam that spins a turbine-generator. It sits in a temperate oceanic climate (Köppen Cfb) — Southern Hemisphere, latitude 38.3°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 11% 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: 46/100 — 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 moderately corrosive environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C3 — Medium), 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 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

• Valley (Peaking Facility) · Gas · 300 MW · Victoria
• Loy Yang A · Coal · 2,215 MW · Victoria
• Traralgon Network Support Station · Waste · 10 MW · Victoria
• Jeeralang A · Gas · 204 MW · Victoria
• Jeeralang B · Gas · 228 MW · Victoria
• Maryvale Energy From Waste power station · Gas · 56 MW · Victoria

Location

Coordinates -38.2564, 146.5864 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.

Frequently asked questions