Qurayyah Thermal power plant — Saudi Arabia
Gas power plant in Central Governorate, Saudi Arabia. Approximate location 25.826, 50.1351.
GasCentral GovernorateSaudi ArabiaSteamCO₂ modelled
Qurayyah Thermal power plant is a 6,275.2 MW gas power station in Central Governorate, Saudi Arabia. It is operated by Saudi Electricity Co. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 7.1 million homes (estimated). It ranks #2 of 156 Saudi Arabia power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1988, it is around 38 years old — long-established. Its modelled annual emissions are 20,764,000 t CO₂/yr (Climate TRACE), equivalent to about 4.8 million cars driven for a year. In context, gas supplies about 63.3% of Saudi Arabia's electricity; the national grid averages 692 gCO₂/kWh (2.2% low-carbon) (2024).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id CT-6401.
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 · L100000405555; fuel: GEM wiki unit-level operating Fuel(s), fetched 2026-07-05
In context: how this plant compares
At 6,275.2 MW, Qurayyah Thermal power plant is well above the median gas plant in Saudi Arabia (496.7 MW). Technically it is described as Steam. 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.
~20,764,000 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
- Share of Saudi Arabia gas capacity
- 7.0% of 89,013 MW across 71 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 9 of 60 dated gas plants in Saudi Arabia are older
Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).
Capacity vs largest gas plants in Saudi Arabia
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by Saudi Electricity Co. All plants by this company →
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) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 25.8°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 98% 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: 14/100 — this site sits in the bottom third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.
A gas turbine here also runs ~8% 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 an aggressive, high-corrosion environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C5 — Very high), with marine salt 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 71 in Saudi Arabia by capacity.
Saudi Arabia has 71 gas power plants in this dataset, together about 89,013 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Hajr for Electricity Production Co. Station · Gas · 4,098 MW · Central Governorate
- QURAYYAH- CC · Gas · 4,098 MW · Eastern Province
- QURAYYAH -STEAM · Gas · 2,500 MW · Eastern Province
- Alkhobar · Oil · 1,190 MW · Eastern Province
- Abqaiq cogeneration power station · Gas · 360 MW · Eastern Province
- ABQ PP · Gas · 162 MW · Eastern Province
Location
Coordinates 25.826, 50.1351 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Qurayyah Thermal power plant?
Qurayyah Thermal power plant is a 6,275.2 MW gas power plant in Central Governorate, Saudi Arabia, commissioned in 1988.
Who operates Qurayyah Thermal power plant?
Qurayyah Thermal power plant is operated by Saudi Electricity Co.
How much CO₂ does Qurayyah Thermal power plant emit?
Qurayyah Thermal power plant has modelled emissions of about 20,764,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year (Climate TRACE).