Simmering is a 1,240 MW gas power station in Lower Austria, Austria. It is operated by Wien Energie. Based on reported annual generation of 2,430 GWh, it can supply roughly 694k homes. It ranks #1 of 131 Austria power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2009, it is around 17 years old — relatively modern. Its annual emissions of 963,698 t CO₂/yr (EU ETS verified (EUTL 2023)) are equivalent to about 225k 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 WRI1019147.
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 · L100000400010; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 1,240 MW, Simmering 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.
963,698 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
- 22%, from 2,430 GWh of reported generation
- Share of Austria gas capacity
- 24.9% of 4,974 MW across 15 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 12 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 Wien Energie. All plants by this company →
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 48.2°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 22% 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: 63/100 — this site sits in the mid 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 #1 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
- Pfaffenau power station · Biomass · 14 MW · Lower Austria
- Donaustadt · Gas · 395 MW · Lower Austria
- Freudenau Danube · Hydro · 172 MW · Lower Austria
- Gaming · Hydro · 14 MW · Lower Austria
- Vienna-Freudenau · Hydro · 172 MW · Lower Austria
- Schwechat Refinery power station · Oil · 170 MW · Lower Austria
Location
Coordinates 48.1815, 16.4334 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Simmering?
Simmering is a 1,240 MW gas power plant in Lower Austria, Austria, commissioned in 2009.
How much electricity does Simmering generate?
Simmering generates about 2,430 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates Simmering?
Simmering is operated by Wien Energie.
How much CO₂ does Simmering emit?
Simmering has measured emissions of about 963,698 tonnes of CO₂ per year (EU ETS verified (EUTL 2023)).