KW Mittelsbüren is a 273 MW oil power station in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is operated by swb Erzeugung GmbH & Co. KG. Based on reported annual generation of 857 GWh, it can supply roughly 245k homes. It ranks #140 of 1,442 Germany power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2016, it is around 10 years old — relatively modern. Its modelled annual emissions are 496,940 t CO₂/yr (Climate TRACE), equivalent to about 116k cars driven for a year. In context, oil supplies about 3.8% 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 WRI1005912.
Data status
Known data
Modelled source data
Calculated from dataset
Known, modelled and calculated values are kept separate. Missing fields are shown as unavailable.
Capacity provenance
The public capacity above is the current source-record value. A 2026 tracker candidate lists 273 MW for SWB Mittelsbüren power station, but it is not used as the public primary value until scope is verified (unit vs operating vs installed/project total).
Data provenance
Source of the capacity and fuel values:
capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000408819; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 273 MW, KW Mittelsbüren is well above the median oil plant in Germany (88 MW). Technically it is described as CCGT; combined-cycle with a heat-recovery steam generator (HRSG). Oil-fired plants burn heavy fuel oil or diesel, usually as peaking or backup capacity on islands and grids without gas pipelines; high fuel cost keeps their utilisation low.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
~496,940 t CO₂/yr (modelled) — in everyday terms
This facility's annual emissions are roughly equivalent to:
Equivalencies via US EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies; modelled emissions from Climate TRACE.
Key facts
- Load factor
- 36%, from 857 GWh of reported generation
- Generation trend
- 960 GWh in 2015 and 857 GWh in 2017 (−11%)
- Highest and lowest year
- 2016: 1,069 GWh; 2017: 857 GWh
- Share of Germany oil capacity
- 7.1% of 3,844 MW across 27 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 24 of 25 dated oil 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 swb Erzeugung GmbH & Co. KG.
Local climate & thermal context
This oil plant burns oil or diesel to drive turbines or reciprocating engines. It sits in a temperate oceanic climate (Köppen Cfb) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 53.1°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 33% 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: 70/100 — 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 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 #4 largest oil power plant of 27 in Germany by capacity.
Germany has 27 oil power plants in this dataset, together about 3,844 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Hafen power station · Coal · 427 MW · Lower Saxony
- KW Hafen · Waste · 33 MW · Lower Saxony
- Müllheizkraftwerk Bremen power station · Biomass · 50 MW · Bremen
- MHKW · Waste · 44 MW · Bremen
- Bremen-Farge power station · Coal · 350 MW · Lower Saxony
- Weserkraftwerk Bremen · Hydro · 9.9 MW · Bremen
Location
Coordinates 53.1289, 8.6852 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is KW Mittelsbüren?
KW Mittelsbüren is a 273 MW oil power plant in Lower Saxony, Germany, commissioned in 2016.
How much electricity does KW Mittelsbüren generate?
KW Mittelsbüren generates about 857 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates KW Mittelsbüren?
KW Mittelsbüren is operated by swb Erzeugung GmbH & Co. KG.
How much CO₂ does KW Mittelsbüren emit?
KW Mittelsbüren has modelled emissions of about 496,940 tonnes of CO₂ per year (Climate TRACE).