Huntorf is a 321 MW gas power station in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is operated by E.ON Kraftwerke GmbH. Based on reported annual generation of 12 GWh, it can supply roughly 3.4k homes. It ranks #119 of 1,442 Germany power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1978, it is around 48 years old — long-established. Its annual emissions of 7,528 t CO₂/yr (EU ETS verified (EUTL 2023)) are equivalent to about 1.8k 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 WRI1005831.
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: GEM · 2026 · L100000400183; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 321 MW, Huntorf is well above the median gas plant in Germany (52.9 MW). Technically it is described as OCGT. 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.
7,528 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
- 0%, from 12 GWh of reported generation; the median for 20 gas plants in Germany that report generation is 18%
- Generation trend
- 1 GWh in 2015 and 12 GWh in 2017 (+1080%)
- Highest and lowest year
- 2017: 12 GWh; 2015: 1 GWh
- Share of Germany gas capacity
- 0.9% of 37,245 MW across 241 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 41 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 E.ON Kraftwerke GmbH. 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 53.2°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 34% 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: 71/100 — this site sits in the top 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 moderately corrosive environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C3 — Medium), 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 #31 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
- Bremen-Farge power station · Coal · 350 MW · Lower Saxony
- Ammerland Solar Power Plant · Solar · 20.8 MW · Lower Saxony
- KW Mittelsbüren · Oil · 273 MW · Lower Saxony
- Hafen power station · Coal · 427 MW · Lower Saxony
- KW Hafen · Waste · 33 MW · Lower Saxony
- Unterweser nuclear power plant · Nuclear · 1,410 MW · Lower Saxony
Location
Coordinates 53.1897, 8.4087 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Huntorf?
Huntorf is a 321 MW gas power plant in Lower Saxony, Germany, commissioned in 1978.
How much electricity does Huntorf generate?
Huntorf generates about 12 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates Huntorf?
Huntorf is operated by E.ON Kraftwerke GmbH.
How much CO₂ does Huntorf emit?
Huntorf has measured emissions of about 7,528 tonnes of CO₂ per year (EU ETS verified (EUTL 2023)).