Reftinskaya GRES: 3,800 MW Coal Power Plant in Sverdlovsk Oblast, Russia

Reftinskaya GRES is a major coal-fired power plant located in the Sverdlovsk Oblast of Russia, near the town of Reftinsky. With a capacity of 3,800 MW, it ranks among the largest coal power stations in Russia and plays a critical role in the Ural region's power grid. The plant is owned and operated by PJSC Enel Russia, a subsidiary of the Italian energy group Enel. The facility operates on coal as its primary fuel, utilizing conventional subcritical boiler technology typical of Soviet-era designs. While specific emission control systems are not detailed, Russian coal plants generally face challenges with SOx, NOx, and particulate emissions. The plant's age and technology suggest it may not meet modern best available techniques (BAT) standards, though it likely complies with Russian national emission standards. Reftinskaya GRES serves as a backbone generator for the Ural energy system, providing baseload power to industrial and residential consumers. Its large capacity and coal dependence mean it has a significant environmental footprint, including CO2 emissions. The plant's location in a relatively sparsely populated area reduces direct population exposure, but its emissions contribute to regional air quality concerns.

The plant's coal combustion releases substantial CO2, SOx, NOx, and particulate matter, contributing to local and regional air pollution. Its location in the Ural region, an area with heavy industry, adds to cumulative environmental pressures. The facility's age and subcritical technology result in lower efficiency and higher emissions per MWh compared to modern supercritical or CCGT plants. Proximity to populated areas is moderate, with the nearest city, Yekaterinburg, approximately 100 km away.