Star Buck is a 490 MW gas power station in Changhua, Taiwan. It is operated by Star Buck Power Corp [100%]. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 552k homes (estimated). It ranks #27 of 60 Taiwan power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2009, it is around 17 years old — relatively modern. In context, gas supplies about 48.8% of Taiwan's electricity; the national grid averages 633 gCO₂/kWh (13.4% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id WRI1000371.
Data status
Known data
Calculated from dataset
Not available
Known, modelled and calculated values are kept separate. Missing fields are shown as unavailable.
Data provenance
Capacity and fuel are the upstream open-dataset record, not yet matched to a 2026 registry or GEM entry.
capacity: WRI GPPD; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 490 MW, Star Buck is below the median gas plant in Taiwan (800 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 Taiwan gas capacity
- 2.4% of 20,166 MW across 16 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 9 of 14 dated gas plants in Taiwan 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 Taiwan
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by Star Buck Power Corp [100%].
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 humid subtropical (dry winter) climate (Köppen Cwa) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 24.1°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 94% 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: 16/100 — this site sits in the bottom third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.
A gas turbine here also runs ~5% 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 an aggressive, high-corrosion environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C5 — Very high), with marine salt 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 #12 largest gas power plant of 16 in Taiwan by capacity.
Taiwan has 16 gas power plants in this dataset, together about 20,166 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Changgong power station · Coal · 1,600 MW · Changhua
- Changhua Coastal · Solar · 100 MW · Taiwan
- Changhua power station · Coal · 271 MW · Changhua
- Taichung · Gas · 288 MW · Taichung City
- Taizhong Taichung · Coal · 5,780 MW · Taichung City
- Sen Jing · Solar · 9.3 MW · Taichung City
Location
Coordinates 24.0783, 120.4116 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Star Buck?
Star Buck is a 490 MW gas power plant in Changhua, Taiwan, commissioned in 2009.
Who operates Star Buck?
Star Buck is operated by Star Buck Power Corp [100%].