Sofia power station is a 315 MW gas power station in Sofia, Bulgaria. It is operated by Toplofikacia Sofia EAD [100%]. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 355k homes (estimated). It ranks #13 of 55 Bulgaria power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1962, it is around 64 years old — an older, legacy facility. In context, gas supplies about 4.9% of Bulgaria's electricity; the national grid averages 276 gCO₂/kWh (71.9% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id GOGPT_sofia_bulgar.
Data status
Known data
Calculated from dataset
Not available
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 75 MW for Sofia 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
Capacity and fuel are the upstream open-dataset record, not yet matched to a 2026 registry or GEM entry.
capacity: GEM GOGPT; fuel: GEM GOGPT
In context: how this plant compares
At 315 MW, Sofia power station is around the median gas plant in Bulgaria (315 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.
Key facts
- Share of Bulgaria gas capacity
- 9.0% of 3,487 MW across 8 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 0 of 6 dated gas plants in Bulgaria 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 Bulgaria
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by Toplofikacia Sofia EAD [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 temperate oceanic climate (Köppen Cfb) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 42.7°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 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 gas power plant of 8 in Bulgaria by capacity.
Bulgaria has 8 gas power plants in this dataset, together about 3,487 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Sofia Iztok power station · Gas · 407 MW · Sofia
- Republika power station · Coal · 105 MW · Pernik
- Bobov Dol power station · Coal · 630 MW · Kyustendil
- Vratsa · Solar · 18 MW · Vratsa
- Vratsa N · Solar · 5 MW · Vratsa
- PSBELMEKEN · Hydro · 375 MW · Sofiya
Location
Coordinates 42.71889, 23.32087 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Sofia power station?
Sofia power station is a 315 MW gas power plant in Sofia, Bulgaria, commissioned in 1962.
Who operates Sofia power station?
Sofia power station is operated by Toplofikacia Sofia EAD [100%].