Refineria La Rabida power station is a 133 MW gas power station in Andalusia, Spain. It is operated by Compañía Española de Petróleos SA. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 150k homes (estimated). It ranks #118 of 899 Spain power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1990, it is around 36 years old — long-established. Its modelled annual emissions are 105,674 t CO₂/yr (Climate TRACE), equivalent to about 25k cars driven for a year. In context, gas supplies about 21.6% of Spain's electricity; the national grid averages 154 gCO₂/kWh (74.6% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id CT-270.
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 · L100000400705; fuel: Climate TRACE
In context: how this plant compares
At 133 MW, Refineria La Rabida power station is well above the median gas plant in Spain (54 MW). Technically it is described as CCGT; combined-cycle with a heat-recovery steam generator (HRSG). 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.
~105,674 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 Spain gas capacity
- 0.4% of 32,018 MW across 95 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 2 of 83 dated gas plants in Spain 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 Spain
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by Compañía Española de Petróleos SA.
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-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen Csa) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 37.2°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 68% 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 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 #39 largest gas power plant of 95 in Spain by capacity.
Spain has 95 gas power plants in this dataset, together about 32,018 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- PALOS DE LA FRONTERA GRUPO 1 · Gas · 1,167 MW · Andalusia
- GEMASA power station · Gas · 28 MW · Andalusia
- CRISTOBAL COLON · Gas · 390.9 MW · Andalusia
- ENCE ENERGIA HUELVA S.L.U. $$ · Gas · 50 MW · Andalusia
- TIOXIDE EUROPE S.L. · Gas · 10 MW · Andalusia
- Ence Huelva power station · Biomass · 167.5 MW · Andalusia
Location
Coordinates 37.1815, -6.8939 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Refineria La Rabida power station?
Refineria La Rabida power station is a 133 MW gas power plant in Andalusia, Spain, commissioned in 1990.
Who operates Refineria La Rabida power station?
Refineria La Rabida power station is operated by Compañía Española de Petróleos SA.
How much CO₂ does Refineria La Rabida power station emit?
Refineria La Rabida power station has modelled emissions of about 105,674 tonnes of CO₂ per year (Climate TRACE).