The purpose of this study is to design a 240 MWel thermal power plant (TPP) to be operated with ten different types of Turkish lignite and fulfill an exergy analysis including the determination and comparison of the performance for each type of lignite. Additionally an examination of the effect of the ambient temperature on the power plant’s exergy efficiency and calculation of the CO2 emissions of each lignite type is carried out. Exergy destruction of each component is investigated by using conservation of mass, conservation of energy and exergy destruction in an open system at steady state. Sivas Kangal lignite is selected for designing. Net energy and exergy efficiencies of the plant are calculated as 37.16 and 34.84 % respectively. The analysis of the case study revealed that the boiler is the major source of exergy destruction with 299.10 MW and 83.29 % of the total exergy destruction of the overall plant. Another point is that, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions of the TPP increase with rising ambient temperature. It should be noted that, comparison between the performances and emission data of the power plants can provide useful data for the future coal-fired thermal power plants investments in Turkey.