Rovinari power station is a 990 MW coal power station in Gorj, Romania. It is operated by CE Oltenia Complexul Energetic. Based on reported annual generation of 5,829 GWh, it can supply roughly 1.7 million homes. It ranks #6 of 97 Romania power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1977, it is around 49 years old — long-established. Its annual emissions of 2,810,034 t CO₂/yr (EU ETS verified (EUTL 2023)) are equivalent to about 655k cars driven for a year. In context, coal supplies about 13.4% of Romania's electricity; the national grid averages 251 gCO₂/kWh (67.5% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id WRI1019094.
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 990 MW for Rovinari 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 · L100000103294; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 990 MW, Rovinari power station is well above the median coal plant in Romania (262 MW). Technically it is described as subcritical. Coal plants burn pulverised coal to raise high-pressure steam for a turbine; they run as baseload but are the most carbon-intensive mainstream source and the first targeted for retirement or efficiency retrofits.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
2,810,034 t CO₂/yr — in everyday terms
This facility's annual emissions are roughly equivalent to:
Equivalencies via US EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies; emissions per EU ETS verified (EUTL 2023) (measured for US EPA/EU ETS, modelled for Climate TRACE).
Key facts
- Load factor
- 67%, from 5,829 GWh of reported generation
- Generation trend
- 5,362 GWh in 2015 and 5,829 GWh in 2017 (+9%)
- Highest and lowest year
- 2017: 5,829 GWh; 2015: 5,362 GWh
- Share of Romania coal capacity
- 10.4% of 9,517 MW across 20 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 3 of 17 dated coal plants in Romania 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 CE Oltenia Complexul Energetic.
Local climate & thermal context
This coal plant burns coal to raise high-pressure steam that spins a turbine-generator. It sits in a temperate oceanic climate (Köppen Cfb) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 44.9°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 13% above 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: 56/100 — this site sits in the mid 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 mild atmospheric environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C2 — Low), 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 #4 largest coal power plant of 20 in Romania by capacity.
Romania has 20 coal power plants in this dataset, together about 9,517 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Târgu Jiu Thermal Plant · Coal · 100 MW · Gorj
- Târgu Cărbuneşti · Solar · 20 MW · Gorj
- Turceni power station · Coal · 1,650 MW · Gorj
- Romag Termo power station · Gas · 150 MW · Mehedinti
- TPP Drobeta · Coal · 313 MW · Mehedinti
- Paroseni power station · Coal · 150 MW · Hunedoara
Location
Coordinates 44.9068, 23.1383 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Rovinari power station?
Rovinari power station is a 990 MW coal power plant in Gorj, Romania, commissioned in 1977.
How much electricity does Rovinari power station generate?
Rovinari power station generates about 5,829 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates Rovinari power station?
Rovinari power station is operated by CE Oltenia Complexul Energetic.
How much CO₂ does Rovinari power station emit?
Rovinari power station has measured emissions of about 2,810,034 tonnes of CO₂ per year (EU ETS verified (EUTL 2023)).