Walnut Creek Energy Park — United States of America
Gas power plant in California, United States of America. Approximate location 34.0087, -117.9449.
GasCaliforniaUnited States of AmericaOCGTCO₂ measured
Walnut Creek Energy Park is a 500 MW gas power station in California, United States of America. It is operated by Walnut Creek LLC. Based on reported annual generation of 456 GWh, it can supply roughly 130k homes. It ranks #1223 of 10,884 United States of America power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2013, it is around 13 years old — relatively modern. Its annual emissions of 186,404 t CO₂/yr (US EPA GHGRP) are equivalent to about 43k cars driven for a year. In context, gas supplies about 40.0% of United States of America's electricity; the national grid averages 384 gCO₂/kWh (43.0% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id USA0057515.
Data status
Known 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 · L100000402365; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 500 MW, Walnut Creek Energy Park is well above the median gas plant in United States of America (121.2 MW). Technically it is described as OCGT. 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.
186,404 t CO₂/yr — in everyday terms
This facility's annual emissions are roughly equivalent to:
Equivalencies via US EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies; emissions per US EPA GHGRP (measured for US EPA/EU ETS, modelled for Climate TRACE).
Key facts
- Load factor
- 10%, from 456 GWh of reported generation; the median for 1622 gas plants in United States of America that report generation is 26%
- Generation trend
- 316 GWh in 2013 and 456 GWh in 2019 (+44%)
- Highest and lowest year
- 2014: 489 GWh; 2013: 316 GWh
- Share of United States of America gas capacity
- less than 0.1% of 789,950 MW across 2,165 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 1,554 of 1,973 dated gas plants in United States of America 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 Walnut Creek LLC.
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 warm-summer Mediterranean climate (Köppen Csb) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 34.0°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 68% 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: 24/100 — this site sits in the bottom third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.
A gas turbine here also runs ~2% 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 #589 largest gas power plant of 2165 in United States of America by capacity.
United States of America has 2165 gas power plants in this dataset, together about 789,950 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- MM West Covina · Waste · 6.8 MW · California
- Puente Hills Energy Recovery · Waste · 50 MW · California
- Industry MetroLink PV 1 · Solar · 1.5 MW · California
- Coyote Creek · Hydro · 3.1 MW · California
- Whittier LFG Power Plant #1 · Waste · 2.2 MW · California
- Blacksand Generating Facility · Gas · 8 MW · California
Location
Coordinates 34.0087, -117.9449 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Walnut Creek Energy Park?
Walnut Creek Energy Park is a 500 MW gas power plant in California, United States of America, commissioned in 2013.
How much electricity does Walnut Creek Energy Park generate?
Walnut Creek Energy Park generates about 456 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates Walnut Creek Energy Park?
Walnut Creek Energy Park is operated by Walnut Creek LLC.
How much CO₂ does Walnut Creek Energy Park emit?
Walnut Creek Energy Park has measured emissions of about 186,404 tonnes of CO₂ per year (US EPA GHGRP).