Sullom Voe Terminal power station — United Kingdom
Oil power plant in Shetland Islands, United Kingdom. Approximate location 60.4649, -1.2793.
OilShetland IslandsUnited KingdomOCGT
Sullom Voe Terminal power station is a 100 MW oil power station in Shetland Islands, United Kingdom. It is operated by BP PLC [100%]. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 75k homes (estimated). It ranks #169 of 2,860 United Kingdom power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1978, it is around 48 years old — long-established. In context, oil supplies about 4.4% of United Kingdom's electricity; the national grid averages 217 gCO₂/kWh (64.4% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id GOGPT_sullomvoeterminal_united.
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
Source of the capacity and fuel values:
capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000408864; fuel: GEM GOGPT
In context: how this plant compares
At 100 MW, Sullom Voe Terminal power station is well above the median oil plant in United Kingdom (45 MW). Technically it is described as OCGT. Oil-fired plants burn heavy fuel oil or diesel, usually as peaking or backup capacity on islands and grids without gas pipelines; high fuel cost keeps their utilisation low.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
Key facts
- Share of United Kingdom oil capacity
- 4.7% of 2,134 MW across 14 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 1 of 5 dated oil plants in United Kingdom is older
Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).
Capacity vs largest oil plants in United Kingdom
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by BP PLC [100%].
Climate zone & how it works
This oil plant burns oil or diesel to drive turbines or reciprocating engines. It sits in a temperate oceanic climate (Köppen Cfb) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 60.5°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 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 oil power plant of 14 in United Kingdom by capacity.
United Kingdom has 14 oil power plants in this dataset, together about 2,134 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- North Yell Wind Farm (Garth Community Wind Farm) · Wind · 4.5 MW · Scotland
- Gremista Wind Farm · Wind · 3 MW · Scotland
- Burradale Hill · Wind · 3.7 MW · Scotland
- Lerwick · Oil · 72.8 MW · Scotland
Location
Coordinates 60.4649, -1.2793 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Sullom Voe Terminal power station?
Sullom Voe Terminal power station is a 100 MW oil power plant in Shetland Islands, United Kingdom, commissioned in 1978.
Who operates Sullom Voe Terminal power station?
Sullom Voe Terminal power station is operated by BP PLC [100%].