Mellach power station is a 1,084 MW gas power station in Styria, Austria. It is operated by Verbund Thermal Power GmbH & Co KG. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 1.2 million homes (estimated). It ranks #2 of 131 Austria power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2012, it is around 14 years old — relatively modern. Its modelled annual emissions are 681,775 t CO₂/yr (Climate TRACE), equivalent to about 159k cars driven for a year. In context, gas supplies about 11.9% of Austria's electricity; the national grid averages 117 gCO₂/kWh (83.6% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id CT-390.
Data status
Known data
Modelled source data
Calculated from dataset
Not available
Known, modelled and calculated values are kept separate. Missing fields are shown as unavailable.
Data provenance
Capacity and fuel are the upstream open-dataset record, not yet matched to a 2026 registry or GEM entry.
capacity: Climate TRACE; fuel: Climate TRACE
In context: how this plant compares
At 1,084 MW, Mellach power station is well above the median gas plant in Austria (153 MW). Technically it is described as CCGT; combined-cycle with a heat-recovery steam generator (HRSG). 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.
~681,775 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
- Share of Austria gas capacity
- 21.8% of 4,974 MW across 15 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 13 of 14 dated gas plants in Austria are older
Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).
Capacity vs largest gas plants in Austria
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by Verbund Thermal Power GmbH & Co KG.
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 46.9°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 32% 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.
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 #2 largest gas power plant of 15 in Austria by capacity.
Austria has 15 gas power plants in this dataset, together about 4,974 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Mellach run power plant · Hydro · 16 MW · Styria
- Lebring · Hydro · 20 MW · Styria
- Gabersdorf · Hydro · 14 MW · Styria
- Altenmarkt · Hydro · 26 MW · Styria
- Obervogau · Hydro · 13 MW · Styria
- Retznei · Hydro · 1 MW · Styria
Location
Coordinates 46.9092, 15.4897 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Mellach power station?
Mellach power station is a 1,084 MW gas power plant in Styria, Austria, commissioned in 2012.
Who operates Mellach power station?
Mellach power station is operated by Verbund Thermal Power GmbH & Co KG.
How much CO₂ does Mellach power station emit?
Mellach power station has modelled emissions of about 681,775 tonnes of CO₂ per year (Climate TRACE).