World Power Plants

Riyadh 4 is an oil-fired power plant located in Saudi Arabia, boasting a capacity of 336.6 MW. Commissioned in 1978, this facility has been a longstanding contributor to the national energy generation landscape. Positioned at coordinates 24.6500, 46.6710, Riyadh 4 is strategically situated to support the electricity demands of the capital and surrounding areas. The plant primarily relies on oil as its fuel source, which has historically been a dominant energy resource in Saudi Arabia. The operational context of Riyadh 4 is significant, as it provides essential baseload power, ensuring a stable electricity supply in a region that experiences high temperatures and significant energy consumption, particularly during peak summer months. Saudi Arabia's energy policy has been evolving, with a focus on diversifying its energy sources and increasing the share of renewable energy. Riyadh 4 plays a pivotal role in the current energy mix, providing reliability while the country transitions towards sustainable energy solutions. The continued operation of this oil-fired facility highlights its importance in bridging the gap as Saudi Arabia seeks to balance traditional energy sources with emerging renewables.

Capacity
336.6 MW
Commissioning Year
1978

48 years old

Owner
Saudi Electricity Company (SEC)
Location
24.6500°, 46.6710°

Saudi Arabia, Asia

Context & rankings
  • 83. largest of 163 plants in Saudi Arabia
  • #5,749 worldwide by installed capacity
  • #213 of 2,478 Oil plants worldwide
  • 0.23% of the installed capacity of Saudi Arabia
Age & fleet comparison

48 years in operation

Oil fleet average: 28.7 years

Operator portfolio

Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) operates 53 plants totalling 55,340 MW

Regional density

17 plants within 100 km, 24,279 MW combined

Nearest plant: Riyadh 3 (5.8 km)

Data provenance

Source: ECRA

Location

Coordinates:: 24.650000, 46.671000
Open in Google Maps
Carbon Footprint650 g CO₂/kWh
Annual CO₂
670.8 Kt
1032 GWh/year × 650 g/kWh
Cumulative CO₂
32.20 Mt
Over 48 years of operation
Past Retirement
2008
18 years past expected retirement
Annual emissions equivalent to
145.8K
cars per year
89.4K
homes per year
30.5M
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
Saudi Arabia
Continent
Asia
Data Source
Global Power Plant Database

Saudi ArabiaEnergy Profile

163
Total Plants
144.3 GW
Total Capacity
GasOilSolarWind
Top Fuels

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