Oakey is a 346 MW gas power station in Queensland, Australia. It is operated by Oakey Power Pty Ltd. Based on reported annual generation of 75 GWh, it can supply roughly 21k homes. It ranks #69 of 536 Australia power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2000, it is around 26 years old — long-established. In context, gas supplies about 16.4% 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 AUS0000166.
Data status
Known data
Calculated from dataset
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 346 MW for Oakey power station, 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 · L100000405126; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 346 MW, Oakey is well above the median gas plant in Australia (106 MW). Technically it is described as OCGT. 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.
Key facts
- Load factor
- 2%, from 75 GWh of reported generation; the median for 84 gas plants in Australia that report generation is 24%
- Generation trend
- 27 GWh in 2013 and 75 GWh in 2018 (+172%)
- Highest and lowest year
- 2016: 520 GWh; 2013: 27 GWh
- Share of Australia gas capacity
- 1.2% of 29,942 MW across 163 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 13 of 59 dated gas 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 Oakey Power Pty Ltd.
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 humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) — Southern Hemisphere, latitude 27.4°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 70% 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.
A gas turbine here also runs ~2% 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 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 #29 largest gas power plant of 163 in Australia by capacity.
Australia has 163 gas power plants in this dataset, together about 29,942 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Oakey 2 · Solar · 55 MW · Queensland
- Oakey 1 · Solar · 25 MW · Queensland
- Lockyer Energy power station · Gas · 120 MW · Queensland
- Millmerran · Coal · 880 MW · Queensland
- Tarong (Oil) · Oil · 15 MW · Queensland
- Tarong · Coal · 1,400 MW · Queensland
Location
Coordinates -27.4183, 151.6797 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Oakey?
Oakey is a 346 MW gas power plant in Queensland, Australia, commissioned in 2000.
How much electricity does Oakey generate?
Oakey generates about 75 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates Oakey?
Oakey is operated by Oakey Power Pty Ltd.