<SUBMISSION>
<ACCESSION-NUMBER>0000916457-05-000076
<TYPE>3
<PUBLIC-DOCUMENT-COUNT>1
<PERIOD>20050919
<FILING-DATE>20050920
<DATE-OF-FILING-DATE-CHANGE>20050920
<ISSUER>
<COMPANY-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>CALPINE CORP
<CIK>0000916457
<ASSIGNED-SIC>4911
<IRS-NUMBER>770212977
<STATE-OF-INCORPORATION>DE
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>1231
</COMPANY-DATA>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>50 WEST SAN FERNANDO ST
<CITY>SAN JOSE
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>95113
<PHONE>4089955115
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<MAIL-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>50 W SAN FERNANDO
<STREET2>SUITE 500
<CITY>SAN JOSE
<STATE>CA
<ZIP>95113
</MAIL-ADDRESS>
</ISSUER>
<REPORTING-OWNER>
<OWNER-DATA>
<CONFORMED-NAME>REVELL WALTER L
<CIK>0001228962
</OWNER-DATA>
<FILING-VALUES>
<FORM-TYPE>3
<ACT>34
<FILE-NUMBER>001-12079
<FILM-NUMBER>051094515
</FILING-VALUES>
<BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
<STREET1>245 RIVERSIDE AVE.
<CITY>JACKSONVILLE
<STATE>FL
<ZIP>32202
</BUSINESS-ADDRESS>
</REPORTING-OWNER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>3
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>o92005-revell_ex.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2005-09-19</periodOfReport>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>1</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000916457</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>CALPINE CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>CPN</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001228962</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>REVELL WALTER L</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>50 W. SAN FERNANDO ST.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SAN JOSE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>95113</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>By: Lisa Bodensteiner For: Walter Revell</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2005-09-20</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SUBMISSION>
