ISAR-2 — Germany

ISAR-2 is a 1,485 MW nuclear power station in Bavaria, Germany. It is operated by PreussenElektra GmbH [100%]. Based on reported annual generation of 10,901 GWh, it can supply roughly 3.1 million homes. It ranks #18 of 1,442 Germany power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1988, it is around 38 years old — long-established. As a non-combustion source, it has no direct CO₂ emissions from generation. In context, nuclear supplies about 0.0% 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 WRI1005849.

Data provenance

Capacity and fuel are the upstream open-dataset record, not yet matched to a 2026 registry or GEM entry.

capacity: WRI GPPD; fuel: WRI GPPD

In context: how this plant compares

At 1,485 MW, ISAR-2 is well above the median nuclear plant in Germany (1,302 MW). Technically it is described as boiling water reactor. Nuclear plants split uranium to raise steam with no direct CO₂; they run as steady baseload with very high capacity factors and the longest operating lifetimes of any thermal plant.

Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.

Key facts

Load factor

84%, from 10,901 GWh of reported generation; the median for 7 nuclear plants in Germany that report generation is 82%

Generation trend

10,394 GWh in 2015 and 10,901 GWh in 2017 (+5%)

Highest and lowest year

2016: 11,336 GWh; 2015: 10,394 GWh

Share of Germany nuclear capacity

5.6% of 26,528 MW across 25 plants in this dataset

Age among peers

20 of 23 dated nuclear 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 PreussenElektra GmbH [100%].

Local climate & thermal context

This nuclear plant uses heat from nuclear fission to raise steam for a turbine-generator. It sits in a temperate oceanic climate (Köppen Cfb) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 48.6°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 44% 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: 76/100 — 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 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 #4 largest nuclear power plant of 25 in Germany by capacity.

Germany has 25 nuclear power plants in this dataset, together about 26,528 MW of capacity.

Nearby power plants

• Niederaichbach · Hydro · 16.2 MW · Bavaria
• Gummering · Hydro · 14.8 MW · Bavaria
• Ergoldsbach Solar Power Plant · Solar · 5.1 MW · Bavaria
• Mengkofen Solar Power Plant · Solar · 21.7 MW · Bavaria
• GHD · Gas · 13.4 MW · Bavaria
• Dingolfing · Hydro · 15 MW · Bavaria

Location

Coordinates 48.6049, 12.2936 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.

Frequently asked questions