Pelican Point Gas Power Plant | South Australia, Australia

Pelican Point is a gas-fired power generation facility located in South Australia, Australia. With a capacity of 478 megawatts, it is a medium-to-large scale plant within the Australian National Electricity Market. The plant is owned and operated by International Power - GDF Suez Australia, a major global energy company. The facility operates on natural gas, a fuel that produces lower carbon emissions compared to coal. As a gas power plant, it likely uses combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) technology, which achieves higher efficiency and lower emissions than older subcritical designs. In Australia, gas plants like Pelican Point are subject to national emissions regulations under the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Scheme and state-level environmental protection laws. Pelican Point contributes to grid stability and energy security in South Australia, a region with high renewable energy penetration. Its fast-start capability allows it to balance intermittent wind and solar generation. The plant's location near Adelaide supports local electricity demand and provides dispatchable power to complement renewables.

As a gas-fired plant, Pelican Point has a lower carbon footprint than coal but still emits CO2 and NOx. Its location in South Australia, a region with growing renewable energy, means it often operates flexibly to back up wind and solar. Proximity to populated areas may require adherence to strict emission limits under state environmental regulations.