MARTIGUES PONTEAU is a 998 MW gas power station in Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, France. It is operated by Electricité de France SA [100%]. Based on reported annual generation of 3,970 GWh, it can supply roughly 1.1 million homes. It ranks #28 of 2,216 France power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2012, it is around 14 years old — relatively modern. Its annual emissions of 849,867 t CO₂/yr (EU ETS verified (EUTL 2023)) are equivalent to about 198k cars driven for a year. In context, gas supplies about 3.0% of France's electricity; the national grid averages 41 gCO₂/kWh (94.9% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id WRI1002743.
Data status
Known 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: GEM · 2026 · L100000400102; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 998 MW, MARTIGUES PONTEAU is well above the median gas plant in France (87.2 MW). Technically it is described as CCGT; combined-cycle with a heat-recovery steam generator (HRSG). Gas plants burn natural gas either in open-cycle turbines for fast peaking, or in combined-cycle units that recover exhaust heat in an HRSG to reach roughly 55–62% efficiency — the cleanest-burning fossil option.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
849,867 t CO₂/yr — in everyday terms
This facility's annual emissions are roughly equivalent to:
Equivalencies via US EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies; emissions per EU ETS verified (EUTL 2023) (measured for US EPA/EU ETS, modelled for Climate TRACE).
Key facts
- Load factor
- 45%, from 3,970 GWh of reported generation; the median for 8 gas plants in France that report generation is 53%
- Generation trend
- 931 GWh in 2015 and 3,970 GWh in 2017 (+326%)
- Highest and lowest year
- 2017: 3,970 GWh; 2015: 931 GWh
- Share of France gas capacity
- 12.9% of 7,707 MW across 34 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 26 of 32 dated gas plants in France 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 Electricité de France SA [100%].
Local climate & thermal context
This gas plant burns natural gas in a turbine — often in a combined-cycle setup — to generate electricity. It sits in a hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen Csa) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 43.4°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 37% 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: 35/100 — this site sits in the mid third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.
A gas turbine here also runs ~0% below its ISO (15°C) rating at this annual mean (typical CCGT curve, estimate).
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 marine corrosion 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 #1 largest gas power plant of 34 in France by capacity.
France has 34 gas power plants in this dataset, together about 7,707 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Renaires power station · Gas · 24.5 MW · Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur
- Auguette power station · Gas · 106.4 MW · Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur
- Martigues · Solar · 1.7 MW · Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur
- Lavera power station · Gas · 78 MW · Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur
- Provence Refinery power station · Oil · 21 MW · Bouches-du-Rhône
- La Mède · Solar · 7.6 MW · Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur
Location
Coordinates 43.3585, 5.0216 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is MARTIGUES PONTEAU?
MARTIGUES PONTEAU is a 998 MW gas power plant in Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, France, commissioned in 2012.
How much electricity does MARTIGUES PONTEAU generate?
MARTIGUES PONTEAU generates about 3,970 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates MARTIGUES PONTEAU?
MARTIGUES PONTEAU is operated by Electricité de France SA [100%].
How much CO₂ does MARTIGUES PONTEAU emit?
MARTIGUES PONTEAU has measured emissions of about 849,867 tonnes of CO₂ per year (EU ETS verified (EUTL 2023)).