NPP Cernavoda is a 1,411 MW nuclear power station in Constanta, Romania. It is operated by Ministerul Economiei; Comertului Si Mediului De Afaceri [100%]. Based on its capacity (estimated), it can supply roughly 3.2 million homes (estimated). It ranks #2 of 97 Romania power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1996, it is around 30 years old — long-established. As a non-combustion source, it has no direct CO₂ emissions from generation. In context, nuclear supplies about 20.5% of Romania's electricity; the national grid averages 251 gCO₂/kWh (67.5% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id WRI1019093.
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 · L100000500162; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
Technically it is described as pressurized heavy 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
- Share of Romania nuclear capacity
- 75.3% of 1,873 MW across 2 plants in this dataset
Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).
Capacity vs largest nuclear plants in Romania
Installed capacity (MW), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by Ministerul Economiei; Comertului Si Mediului De Afaceri [100%].
Local climate & thermal context
This nuclear plant uses heat from nuclear fission to raise steam for a turbine-generator. It sits in a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 44.3°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 12% 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: 56/100 — this site sits in the mid 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 #1 largest nuclear power plant of 2 in Romania by capacity.
Romania has 2 nuclear power plants in this dataset, together about 1,873 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Petromidia Refinery power station · Gas · 80 MW · Constanta
- Palas power station · Gas · 255 MW · Constanta
- WPP Cogealac · Wind · 252 MW · Constanta
- Fierbinti · Solar · 12.7 MW · Braila
- Kalipetrovo · Solar · 3.9 MW · Silistra
- Montan-Renar · Solar · 10.4 MW · Silistra
Location
Coordinates 44.3215, 28.0568 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is NPP Cernavoda?
NPP Cernavoda is a 1,411 MW nuclear power plant in Constanta, Romania, commissioned in 1996.
Who operates NPP Cernavoda?
NPP Cernavoda is operated by Ministerul Economiei; Comertului Si Mediului De Afaceri [100%].