Provence Refinery power station is a 21 MW oil power plant in Bouches-du-Rhône, France. It is operated by TotalEnergies Raffinage France. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 16k homes (estimated). It ranks #336 of 2,216 France power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1986, it is around 40 years old — long-established. In context, oil supplies about 1.8% 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 GOGPT_provencerefinery_france.
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
Source of the capacity and fuel values:
capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100001007699; fuel: GEM GOGPT
In context: how this plant compares
At 21 MW, Provence Refinery power station is below the median oil plant in France (133 MW). Technically it is described as Steam. 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
- Share of France oil capacity
- 0.4% of 5,920 MW across 18 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 4 of 14 dated oil plants in France are older
Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).
Capacity vs largest oil plants in France
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by TotalEnergies Raffinage France.
Local climate & thermal context
This oil plant burns oil or diesel to drive turbines or reciprocating engines. 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 43% 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: 32/100 — 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 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 #18 largest oil power plant of 18 in France by capacity.
France has 18 oil power plants in this dataset, together about 5,920 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- La Mède · Solar · 7.6 MW · Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur
- Martigues · Solar · 1.7 MW · Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur
- Marignane · Solar · 3.2 MW · Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur
- MARTIGUES PONTEAU · Gas · 998 MW · Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur
- Auguette power station · Gas · 106.4 MW · Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur
- Renaires power station · Gas · 24.5 MW · Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur
Location
Coordinates 43.3945, 5.1131 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Provence Refinery power station?
Provence Refinery power station is a 21 MW oil power plant in Bouches-du-Rhône, France, commissioned in 1986.
Who operates Provence Refinery power station?
Provence Refinery power station is operated by TotalEnergies Raffinage France.