HKW Niehl 2 is a 413 MW gas power station in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is operated by RheinEnergie AG. Based on reported annual generation of 3,719 GWh, it can supply roughly 1.1 million homes. It ranks #97 of 1,442 Germany power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2005, it is around 21 years old — relatively modern. Its annual emissions of 1,022,702 t CO₂/yr (EU ETS verified (EUTL 2023)) are equivalent to about 238k cars driven for a year. In context, gas supplies about 16.5% of Germany's electricity; the national grid averages 330 gCO₂/kWh (59.1% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id WRI1005803.
Data status
Known data
Calculated from dataset
Not available
Known, modelled and calculated values are kept separate. Missing fields are shown as unavailable.
Data provenance
Source of the capacity and fuel values:
capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000400226; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 413 MW, HKW Niehl 2 is well above the median gas plant in Germany (52.9 MW). Gas plants burn natural gas either in open-cycle turbines for fast peaking, or in combined-cycle units that recover exhaust heat in an HRSG to reach roughly 55–62% efficiency — the cleanest-burning fossil option.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
1,022,702 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
- Share of Germany gas capacity
- 1.1% of 37,245 MW across 241 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 148 of 221 dated gas plants in Germany 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 RheinEnergie AG. All plants by this company →
Local climate & thermal context
This gas plant burns natural gas in a turbine — often in a combined-cycle setup — to generate electricity. It sits in a temperate oceanic climate (Köppen Cfb) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 51.0°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 14% 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: 57/100 — this site sits in the mid third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.
A gas turbine here also runs ~0% below its ISO (15°C) rating at this annual mean (typical CCGT curve, estimate).
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 mild atmospheric environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C2 — Low), 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 #25 largest gas power plant of 241 in Germany by capacity.
Germany has 241 gas power plants in this dataset, together about 37,245 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- RMVA Köln · Waste · 45.1 MW · North Rhine-Westphalia
- X-Kraftwerk · Gas · 27 MW · North Rhine-Westphalia
- Waste Incinerator #1 · Waste · 11.6 MW · North Rhine-Westphalia
- Cologne-Merkenich power station · Coal · 75.3 MW · North Rhine-Westphalia
- HKW Merkenich (Natural Gas) · Gas · 108 MW · North Rhine-Westphalia
- HKW Merkenich · Gas · 15.5 MW · North Rhine-Westphalia
Location
Coordinates 50.9749, 6.988 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is HKW Niehl 2?
HKW Niehl 2 is a 413 MW gas power plant in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, commissioned in 2005.
How much electricity does HKW Niehl 2 generate?
HKW Niehl 2 generates about 3,719 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates HKW Niehl 2?
HKW Niehl 2 is operated by RheinEnergie AG.
How much CO₂ does HKW Niehl 2 emit?
HKW Niehl 2 has measured emissions of about 1,022,702 tonnes of CO₂ per year (EU ETS verified (EUTL 2023)).