Swanbank E is a 385 MW gas power station in Queensland, Australia. It is operated by CS Energy. Based on reported annual generation of 671 GWh, it can supply roughly 192k homes. It ranks #65 of 536 Australia power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2002, it is around 24 years old — relatively modern. Its modelled annual emissions are 217,418 t CO₂/yr (Climate TRACE), equivalent to about 51k 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 AUS0000149.
Data status
Known data
Modelled source data
Calculated from dataset
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 385 MW, Swanbank E is well above the median gas plant in Australia (106 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.
~217,418 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
- Load factor
- 20%, from 671 GWh of reported generation; the median for 84 gas plants in Australia that report generation is 24%
- Generation trend
- 1,408 GWh in 2013 and 671 GWh in 2018 (−52%)
- Highest and lowest year
- 2014: 2,314 GWh; 2018: 671 GWh
- Share of Australia gas capacity
- 1.3% of 29,942 MW across 163 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 16 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)).
Reported generation trend
Annual generation (GWh), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by CS Energy. 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 humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) — Southern Hemisphere, latitude 27.7°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 83% 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: 19/100 — this site sits in the bottom third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.
A gas turbine here also runs ~3% 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 #26 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
- Whitwood Road · Waste · 1 MW · Queensland
- Swanbank-A power station · Coal · 396 MW · Queensland
- Ti Tree Bioenergy · Waste · 3.3 MW · Queensland
- Browns Plains · Waste · 2.2 MW · Queensland
- University of Queensland (St Lucia Campus) Solar Array · Solar · 1.2 MW · Queensland
- Rochedale · Waste · 4 MW · Queensland
Location
Coordinates -27.6554, 152.8179 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Swanbank E?
Swanbank E is a 385 MW gas power plant in Queensland, Australia, commissioned in 2002.
How much electricity does Swanbank E generate?
Swanbank E generates about 671 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates Swanbank E?
Swanbank E is operated by CS Energy.
How much CO₂ does Swanbank E emit?
Swanbank E has modelled emissions of about 217,418 tonnes of CO₂ per year (Climate TRACE).