Owen Springs is a 36 MW gas power plant in Northern Territory, Australia. It is operated by NT Government. Based on reported annual generation of 75 GWh, it can supply roughly 21k homes. It ranks #292 of 536 Australia power plants by installed capacity. Its modelled annual emissions are 131,150 t CO₂/yr (Climate TRACE), equivalent to about 31k cars driven for a year. 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 AUS0000255.
Data status
Known data
Modelled source data
Calculated from dataset
Not available
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 · L100000408966; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 36 MW, Owen Springs is below the median gas plant in Australia (106 MW). Technically it is described as Engine. 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.
~131,150 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
- 24%, from 75 GWh of reported generation, in line with the 24% median for 84 gas plants in Australia
- Generation trend
- 63 GWh in 2013 and 75 GWh in 2018 (+19%)
- Highest and lowest year
- 2016: 92 GWh; 2014: 53 GWh
- Share of Australia gas capacity
- 0.1% of 29,942 MW across 163 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 NT Government.
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 desert climate (Köppen BWh) — Southern Hemisphere, latitude 23.9°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 79% 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: 20/100 — this site sits in the bottom third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.
A gas turbine here also runs ~4% 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 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 #116 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
- Brewer · Gas · 8.5 MW · Northern Territory
- Uterne Solar · Solar · 3.9 MW · Northern Territory
- Ron Goodin · Gas · 45 MW · Northern Territory
Location
Coordinates -23.8636, 133.8255 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Owen Springs?
Owen Springs is a 36 MW gas power plant in Northern Territory, Australia.
How much electricity does Owen Springs generate?
Owen Springs generates about 75 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates Owen Springs?
Owen Springs is operated by NT Government.
How much CO₂ does Owen Springs emit?
Owen Springs has modelled emissions of about 131,150 tonnes of CO₂ per year (Climate TRACE).