Yallourn is a 1,480 MW coal power station in Victoria, Australia. It is operated by TRUenergy. Based on reported annual generation of 10,239 GWh, it can supply roughly 2.9 million homes. It ranks #8 of 536 Australia power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1973, it is around 53 years old — an older, legacy facility. Its modelled annual emissions are 8,292,900 t CO₂/yr (Climate TRACE), equivalent to about 1.9 million cars driven for a year. In context, coal supplies about 42.7% 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 AUS0000100.
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 · L100000100037; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 1,480 MW, Yallourn is well above the median coal plant in Australia (700 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.
~8,292,900 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
- 79%, from 10,239 GWh of reported generation; the median for 19 coal plants in Australia that report generation is 67%
- Generation trend
- 8,337 GWh in 2013 and 10,239 GWh in 2018 (+23%)
- Highest and lowest year
- 2016: 11,588 GWh; 2013: 8,337 GWh
- Share of Australia coal capacity
- 4.5% of 32,918 MW across 38 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 9 of 28 dated coal 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 TRUenergy. 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 temperate oceanic climate (Köppen Cfb) — Southern Hemisphere, latitude 38.2°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 36% 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: 35/100 — this site sits in the mid 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 moderately corrosive environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C3 — Medium), 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 #7 largest coal power plant of 38 in Australia by capacity.
Australia has 38 coal power plants in this dataset, together about 32,918 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Maryvale Mill · Biomass · 54.5 MW · Victoria
- Maryvale Energy From Waste power station · Gas · 56 MW · Victoria
- Energy Brix · Coal · 195 MW · Victoria
- Hazelwood · Coal · 1,600 MW · Victoria
- Jeeralang B · Gas · 228 MW · Victoria
- Jeeralang A · Gas · 204 MW · Victoria
Location
Coordinates -38.177, 146.3428 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Yallourn?
Yallourn is a 1,480 MW coal power plant in Victoria, Australia, commissioned in 1973.
How much electricity does Yallourn generate?
Yallourn generates about 10,239 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates Yallourn?
Yallourn is operated by TRUenergy.
How much CO₂ does Yallourn emit?
Yallourn has modelled emissions of about 8,292,900 tonnes of CO₂ per year (Climate TRACE).