Schwarze Pumpe power station is a 1,600 MW coal power station in Brandenburg, Germany. It is operated by Vattenfall Europe AG. Based on reported annual generation of 10,102 GWh, it can supply roughly 2.9 million homes. It ranks #15 of 1,442 Germany power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1998, it is around 28 years old — long-established. Its annual emissions of 9,660,155 t CO₂/yr (EU ETS verified (EUTL 2023)) are equivalent to about 2.3 million cars driven for a year. In context, coal supplies about 20.6% 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 WRI1006045.
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 · L100000101895; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 1,600 MW, Schwarze Pumpe power station is well above the median coal plant in Germany (296.2 MW). Technically it is described as supercritical. Coal plants burn pulverised coal to raise high-pressure steam for a turbine; they run as baseload but are the most carbon-intensive mainstream source and the first targeted for retirement or efficiency retrofits.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
9,660,155 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
- 72%, from 10,102 GWh of reported generation; the median for 42 coal plants in Germany that report generation is 47%
- Generation trend
- 10,920 GWh in 2015 and 10,102 GWh in 2017 (−7%)
- Highest and lowest year
- 2015: 10,920 GWh; 2017: 10,102 GWh
- Share of Germany coal capacity
- 2.5% of 64,920 MW across 124 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 95 of 117 dated coal 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 Vattenfall Europe AG. All plants by this company →
Local climate & thermal context
This coal plant burns coal to raise high-pressure steam that spins a turbine-generator. It sits in a temperate oceanic climate (Köppen Cfb) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 51.5°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 31% 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: 69/100 — 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 #10 largest coal power plant of 124 in Germany by capacity.
Germany has 124 coal power plants in this dataset, together about 64,920 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Hamburger Rieger · Waste · 18.7 MW · Brandenburg
- Altheim · Hydro · 17.8 MW · Brandenburg
- Spremberg · Solar · 3.6 MW · Brandenburg
- Sabrodt · Solar · 10 MW · Brandenburg
- Zerre · Solar · 8 MW · Brandenburg
- Elsterheide Solar Power Plant · Solar · 20 MW · Saxony
Location
Coordinates 51.5348, 14.3531 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Schwarze Pumpe power station?
Schwarze Pumpe power station is a 1,600 MW coal power plant in Brandenburg, Germany, commissioned in 1998.
How much electricity does Schwarze Pumpe power station generate?
Schwarze Pumpe power station generates about 10,102 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates Schwarze Pumpe power station?
Schwarze Pumpe power station is operated by Vattenfall Europe AG.
How much CO₂ does Schwarze Pumpe power station emit?
Schwarze Pumpe power station has measured emissions of about 9,660,155 tonnes of CO₂ per year (EU ETS verified (EUTL 2023)).