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Whirinaki155 MW Oil

Oil

Whirinaki is an oil power plant located in New Zealand. It has an installed capacity of 155 MW generated from oil energy. The plant was commissioned in 2011. It is operated by Contact Energy.

Capacity
155 MW
Commissioning Year
2011

15 years old

Owner
Contact Energy
Location
-39.3829°, 176.8875°

New Zealand, Oceania

Location

Coordinates:: -39.382900, 176.887500
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Carbon Footprint650 g CO₂/kWh
Annual CO₂
308.9 Kt
475 GWh/year × 650 g/kWh
Cumulative CO₂
4.63 Mt
Over 15 years of operation
Est. Retirement
2041
15 years remaining
Annual emissions equivalent to
67.2K
cars per year
41.2K
homes per year
14.0M
trees to offset

Estimates based on Oil emission factor (650 g CO₂/kWh) and capacity factor (35%). Actual emissions may vary based on operating conditions, efficiency, and fuel quality.

Technical Details

Primary Fuel Type
Oil
Energy Source
Non-Renewable
Country
New Zealand
Continent
Oceania
Data Source
Global Power Station Database

New ZealandEnergy Profile

43
Total Stations
6.7 GW
Total Capacity
HydroGeothermalGasCoal
Top Fuels

An Overview of Oil as a Power Generation Energy Source

Oil has been a significant source of energy for power generation worldwide, with 2,416 oil power plants distributed across 108 countries, contributing a total installed capacity of approximately 286.9 gigawatts (GW). The reliance on oil for electricity generation has its roots in the ease of extraction, transportation, and the energy density of crude oil, making it a practical choice for many nations. Notable countries that utilise oil in power generation include Japan, Saudi Arabia, the United States, Iran, and Mexico, with Japan hosting 29 plants and leading in capacity at 49.9 GW, closely followed by Saudi Arabia with 53 plants at 49.7 GW. The United States has 883 oil power plants with a combined capacity of 39.4 GW, while Iran and Mexico have 22 and 23 plants, respectively, with capacities of 13.5 GW and 12.2 GW.

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