Sethelec D'Arles power station — France

Sethelec D'Arles power station is a 44 MW gas power plant in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France. It is operated by ENGIE SA [100%]. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 50k homes (estimated). It ranks #196 of 2,216 France power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2002, it is around 24 years old — relatively modern. Its annual emissions of 305 t CO₂/yr (EU ETS verified (EUTL 2023)) are equivalent to about 71 cars driven for a year. In context, gas supplies about 3.0% 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_sethelecdarles_france.

Data provenance

Source of the capacity and fuel values:

capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000407634; fuel: GEM GOGPT

In context: how this plant compares

At 44 MW, Sethelec D'Arles power station is below the median gas plant in France (87.2 MW). Technically it is described as OCGT. 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.

305 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

Share of France gas capacity

0.6% of 7,707 MW across 34 plants in this dataset

Age among peers

15 of 32 dated gas 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 gas plants in France

Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).

Owner

Operated by ENGIE SA [100%].

Climate zone & how it works

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 43.7°N — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.

Climate zone & typical temperatures: Köppen-Geiger world climate classification (Kottek et al. 2006, 0.5° grid).

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 #28 largest gas power plant of 34 in France by capacity.

France has 34 gas power plants in this dataset, together about 7,707 MW of capacity.

Nearby power plants

• Beaucaire · Wind · 12 MW · Languedoc-Roussillon
• Beaucaire · Solar · 23.7 MW · Languedoc-Roussillon
• Tarascon power station · Biomass · 37 MW · Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur
• Bellegarde · Solar · 6.8 MW · Languedoc-Roussillon
• Saint-Martin-de-Crau A · Solar · 5 MW · Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur
• Arles · Solar · 9.1 MW · Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur

Location

Coordinates 43.67355, 4.60872 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.

Frequently asked questions