Southern Cross power station is a 244 MW gas power station in Western Australia, Australia. It is operated by TransAlta Corp. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 275k homes (estimated). It ranks #85 of 536 Australia power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1996, it is around 30 years old — long-established. Its modelled annual emissions are 352,040 t CO₂/yr (Climate TRACE), equivalent to about 82k cars driven for a year. In context, gas supplies about 16.4% of Australia's electricity; the national grid averages 525 gCO₂/kWh (38.6% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id CT-6094.
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 · L100000405134; fuel: Climate TRACE
In context: how this plant compares
At 244 MW, Southern Cross power station is well above the median gas plant in Australia (106 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.
~352,040 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 Australia gas capacity
- 0.8% of 29,942 MW across 163 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 5 of 59 dated gas plants in Australia 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 Australia
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by TransAlta Corp. 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 cold semi-arid steppe climate (Köppen BSk) — Southern Hemisphere, latitude 31.2°S — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.
Monthly mean temperature
Heating degree-days here run 71% 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: 23/100 — 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 benign, low-corrosion environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C1 — Very low), with dust abrasion 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 #41 largest gas power plant of 163 in Australia by capacity.
Australia has 163 gas power plants in this dataset, together about 29,942 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Kambalda · Gas · 42 MW · Western Australia
- Kalgoorlie Nickel Smelter · Gas · 42 MW · Western Australia
- West Kalgoorlie · Oil · 60 MW · Western Australia
- Kalgoorlie (Parkeston) · Gas · 110 MW · Western Australia
- Cawse Nickel Mine · Gas · 21 MW · Western Australia
- Norseman Mine · Oil · 9 MW · Western Australia
Location
Coordinates -31.1919, 121.6719 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Southern Cross power station?
Southern Cross power station is a 244 MW gas power plant in Western Australia, Australia, commissioned in 1996.
Who operates Southern Cross power station?
Southern Cross power station is operated by TransAlta Corp.
How much CO₂ does Southern Cross power station emit?
Southern Cross power station has modelled emissions of about 352,040 tonnes of CO₂ per year (Climate TRACE).