Tamar Valley is a 390 MW gas power station in Tasmania, Australia. It is operated by Aurora Energy (Tamar Valley). Based on reported annual generation of 846 GWh, it can supply roughly 242k homes. It ranks #64 of 536 Australia power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2009, it is around 17 years old — relatively modern. Its modelled annual emissions are 258,650 t CO₂/yr (Climate TRACE), equivalent to about 60k 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 AUS0000138.
Data status
Known data
Modelled source data
Calculated from dataset
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 268 MW for Tamar Valley 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
Source of the capacity and fuel values:
capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000405137; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 390 MW, Tamar Valley 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); Mitsubishi Power: M701DA. 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.
~258,650 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
- 25%, from 846 GWh of reported generation, in line with the 24% median for 84 gas plants in Australia
- Generation trend
- 1,686 GWh in 2013 and 846 GWh in 2018 (−50%)
- Highest and lowest year
- 2013: 1,686 GWh; 2015: 18 GWh
- Share of Australia gas capacity
- 1.3% of 29,942 MW across 163 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 26 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 Aurora Energy (Tamar Valley).
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 temperate oceanic climate (Köppen Cfb) — Southern Hemisphere, latitude 41.1°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 20% 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: 43/100 — this site sits in the mid third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.
A gas turbine here also runs ~0% 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 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 #25 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
- Bell Bay (Bell Bay Three) · Gas · 115 MW · Tasmania
- Remount · Waste · 2.2 MW · Tasmania
- Trevallyn · Hydro · 80 MW · Tasmania
- Paloona · Hydro · 32 MW · Tasmania
- Devils Gate · Hydro · 60 MW · Tasmania
- Cethana · Hydro · 100 MW · Tasmania
Location
Coordinates -41.1401, 146.9036 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Tamar Valley?
Tamar Valley is a 390 MW gas power plant in Tasmania, Australia, commissioned in 2009.
How much electricity does Tamar Valley generate?
Tamar Valley generates about 846 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates Tamar Valley?
Tamar Valley is operated by Aurora Energy (Tamar Valley).
How much CO₂ does Tamar Valley emit?
Tamar Valley has modelled emissions of about 258,650 tonnes of CO₂ per year (Climate TRACE).