Esbjerg power station is a 373 MW coal power station in South Denmark, Denmark. It is operated by DONG Energy A/S. Based on reported annual generation of 818 GWh, it can supply roughly 234k homes. It ranks #9 of 57 Denmark power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1992, it is around 34 years old — long-established. Its annual emissions of 633,517 t CO₂/yr (EU ETS verified (EUTL 2023)) are equivalent to about 148k cars driven for a year. In context, coal supplies about 2.7% of Denmark's electricity; the national grid averages 114 gCO₂/kWh (91.2% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id WRI1022035.
Data status
Known data
Calculated from dataset
Known, modelled and calculated values are kept separate. Missing fields are shown as unavailable.
Data provenance
Source of the capacity and fuel values:
capacity: Wikidata P2109; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 373 MW, Esbjerg power station is around the median coal plant in Denmark (373 MW). Technically it is described as supercritical. Coal plants burn pulverised coal to raise high-pressure steam for a turbine; they run as baseload but are the most carbon-intensive mainstream source and the first targeted for retirement or efficiency retrofits.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
633,517 t CO₂/yr — in everyday terms
This facility's annual emissions are roughly equivalent to:
Equivalencies via US EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies; emissions per EU ETS verified (EUTL 2023) (measured for US EPA/EU ETS, modelled for Climate TRACE).
Key facts
- Load factor
- 25%, from 818 GWh of reported generation, in line with the 25% median for 7 coal plants in Denmark
- Generation trend
- 962 GWh in 2015 and 818 GWh in 2017 (−15%)
- Highest and lowest year
- 2016: 1,354 GWh; 2017: 818 GWh
- Share of Denmark coal capacity
- 7.2% of 5,163 MW across 11 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 9 of 11 dated coal plants in Denmark are older
Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).
Reported generation trend
Annual generation (GWh), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by DONG Energy A/S.
Local climate & thermal context
This coal plant burns coal to raise high-pressure steam that spins a turbine-generator. It sits in a temperate oceanic climate (Köppen Cfb) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 55.5°N — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.
Monthly mean temperature
Heating degree-days here run 39% above the median power plant in this dataset — a proxy for how much extra energy heated equipment must replace through its surfaces in winter.
Climate heat-demand index: 74/100 — this site sits in the top third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.
Climate normals: WorldClim 2.1 (1970–2000 monthly normals, 10 arc-min, CC BY 4.0); zone: Köppen-Geiger world climate classification (Kottek et al. 2006, 0.5° grid). Degree-days & heat-demand index computed by PowerAtlas — a modelled heat-demand proxy, not a measured site figure.
Site climate & environmental severity
This site sits in a corrosive environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C4 — High), with humidity / wetness the leading environmental stress.
Indicative estimate via the ISO 9223:2012 informative method (atmospheric corrosivity from temperature, time-of-wetness and airborne salinity), using WorldClim climate normals, the Köppen-Geiger class and coast distance. Indicative, not a measured corrosion rate.
How it compares & nearby plants
The #6 largest coal power plant of 11 in Denmark by capacity.
Denmark has 11 coal power plants in this dataset, together about 5,163 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Esbjerg Reserve power station · Gas · 25 MW · Syddanmark
- Horns Rev A · Wind · 160 MW · South Denmark
- Rejsby Hede · Wind · 24 MW · Schleswig-Holstein
- Vandel · Solar · 274.5 MW · South Denmark
- Horns Rev B · Wind · 209.3 MW · Central Jutland
- Rodenäs Solar Power Plant · Solar · 2.6 MW · Schleswig-Holstein
Location
Coordinates 55.4552, 8.4544 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Esbjerg power station?
Esbjerg power station is a 373 MW coal power plant in South Denmark, Denmark, commissioned in 1992.
How much electricity does Esbjerg power station generate?
Esbjerg power station generates about 818 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates Esbjerg power station?
Esbjerg power station is operated by DONG Energy A/S.
How much CO₂ does Esbjerg power station emit?
Esbjerg power station has measured emissions of about 633,517 tonnes of CO₂ per year (EU ETS verified (EUTL 2023)).