TUTICORIN is a 1,050 MW coal power station in Tamil Nadu, India. It is operated by Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corp Ltd. Based on reported annual generation of 5,808 GWh, it can supply roughly 1.7 million homes. It ranks #373 of 2,225 India power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1984, it is around 42 years old — long-established. Its modelled annual emissions are 5,984,700 t CO₂/yr (Climate TRACE), equivalent to about 1.4 million cars driven for a year. In context, coal supplies about 70.8% of India's electricity; the national grid averages 670 gCO₂/kWh (26.7% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id IND0000466.
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
Source of the capacity and fuel values:
capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000102587; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 1,050 MW, TUTICORIN is around the median coal plant in India (1,000 MW). Technically it is described as subcritical. Coal plants burn pulverised coal to raise high-pressure steam for a turbine; they run as baseload but are the most carbon-intensive mainstream source and the first targeted for retirement or efficiency retrofits.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
~5,984,700 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
- 63%, from 5,808 GWh of reported generation; the median for 167 coal plants in India that report generation is 54%
- Generation trend
- 7,043 GWh in 2014 and 5,808 GWh in 2018 (−18%)
- Highest and lowest year
- 2014: 7,043 GWh; 2017: 4,813 GWh
- Share of India coal capacity
- 0.1% of 805,419 MW across 713 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 33 of 354 dated coal plants in India 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 Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corp Ltd. All plants by this company →
Local climate & thermal context
This coal plant burns coal to raise high-pressure steam that spins a turbine-generator. It sits in a tropical savanna climate (Köppen Aw) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 8.8°N — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.
Monthly mean temperature
This site has effectively no heating season (tropical/equatorial climate), so winter heat loss is not the driver here. The thermal concern shifts to year-round process heat and humidity/heat-driven corrosion of hot equipment.
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 #346 largest coal power plant of 713 in India by capacity.
India has 713 coal power plants in this dataset, together about 805,419 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- TUTICORIN- IND BARATH · Coal · 300 MW · Tamil Nadu
- TUTICORIN JV · Coal · 1,050 MW · Tamil Nadu
- Jaya power station · Coal · 450 MW · Tamil Nadu
- Tuticorin Smelter power station · Coal · 160 MW · Tamil Nadu
- Mutiara Coastal Energen Thermal Power Plant · Coal · 1,200 MW · Tamil Nadu
- MELAMARUTHUR (MUTHIARA) · Coal · 1,200 MW · Tamil Nadu
Location
Coordinates 8.7635, 78.1753 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is TUTICORIN?
TUTICORIN is a 1,050 MW coal power plant in Tamil Nadu, India, commissioned in 1984.
How much electricity does TUTICORIN generate?
TUTICORIN generates about 5,808 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates TUTICORIN?
TUTICORIN is operated by Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corp Ltd.
How much CO₂ does TUTICORIN emit?
TUTICORIN has modelled emissions of about 5,984,700 tonnes of CO₂ per year (Climate TRACE).