Termoeléctrica de Setúbal is a 12.5 MW biomass power plant in Setubal, Portugal. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 17k homes (estimated). It ranks #161 of 480 Portugal power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2009, it is around 17 years old — relatively modern. In context, biomass supplies about 6.8% of Portugal's electricity; the national grid averages 128 gCO₂/kWh (81.0% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id WRI1022516.
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 12.5 MW, Termoeléctrica de Setúbal is around the median biomass plant in Portugal (12.5 MW). Biomass plants burn organic material such as wood, residues or waste-derived fuel to raise steam; they are dispatchable and counted as low-carbon where the feedstock is sustainably sourced.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
Key facts
- Share of Portugal biomass capacity
- 2.8% of 453 MW across 19 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 13 of 19 dated biomass plants in Portugal are older
Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).
Capacity vs largest biomass plants in Portugal
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Local climate & thermal context
This biomass plant burns organic material (wood, residues) to raise steam for a turbine. It sits in a hot-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen Csa) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 38.5°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 63% 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: 25/100 — this site sits in the bottom third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.
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 marine 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 #11 largest biomass power plant of 19 in Portugal by capacity.
Portugal has 19 biomass power plants in this dataset, together about 453 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- About the Future · Solar · 2.2 MW · Setubal
- Cogeração de Setúbal · Biomass · 53.9 MW · Setubal
- Palmela · Solar · 1.6 MW · Setubal
- Salgueirinha · Solar · 4 MW · Setubal
- Palmela (Ecoparque) · Waste · 2.4 MW · Setubal
- Acil 1 · Solar · 2 MW · Evora
Location
Coordinates 38.4916, -8.8113 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Termoeléctrica de Setúbal?
Termoeléctrica de Setúbal is a 12.5 MW biomass power plant in Setubal, Portugal, commissioned in 2009.