Meekatharra is a 2.9 MW oil power plant in Western Australia, Australia. It is operated by Energy Developments. Based on reported annual generation of 7 GWh, it can supply roughly 1.9k homes. It ranks #471 of 536 Australia power plants by installed capacity. In context, oil supplies about 2.2% 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 AUS0000408.
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
Capacity and fuel are the upstream open-dataset record, not yet matched to a 2026 registry or GEM entry.
capacity: WRI GPPD; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 2.9 MW, Meekatharra is below the median oil plant in Australia (8.6 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
- Load factor
- 26%, from 7 GWh of reported generation; the median for 14 oil plants in Australia that report generation is 24%
- Generation trend
- 8 GWh in 2013 and 7 GWh in 2018 (−13%)
- Highest and lowest year
- 2014: 8 GWh; 2015: 6 GWh
- Share of Australia oil capacity
- 0.2% of 1,605 MW across 46 plants in this dataset
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 Energy Developments. 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 hot desert climate (Köppen BWh) — Southern Hemisphere, latitude 26.6°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 85% 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: 19/100 — 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 benign, low-corrosion environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C1 — Very low), with dust abrasion 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 #28 largest oil power plant of 46 in Australia by capacity.
Australia has 46 oil power plants in this dataset, together about 1,605 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- DeGrussa · Solar · 10.6 MW · Western Australia
- Mount Magnet · Gas · 1.9 MW · Western Australia
- Windimurra Vanadium Mine · Gas · 23.7 MW · Western Australia
Location
Coordinates -26.5952, 118.483 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Meekatharra?
Meekatharra is a 2.9 MW oil power plant in Western Australia, Australia.
How much electricity does Meekatharra generate?
Meekatharra generates about 7 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates Meekatharra?
Meekatharra is operated by Energy Developments.