Skaerbaekvaerket is a 392 MW gas power station in South Denmark, Denmark. Based on reported annual generation of 400 GWh, it can supply roughly 114k homes. It ranks #8 of 57 Denmark power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1997, it is around 29 years old — long-established. Its annual emissions of 78,785 t CO₂/yr (EU ETS verified (EUTL 2023)) are equivalent to about 18k cars driven for a year. In context, gas supplies about 2.4% of Denmark's electricity; the national grid averages 114 gCO₂/kWh (91.2% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id WRI1022034.
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
Capacity and fuel are the upstream open-dataset record, not yet matched to a 2026 registry or GEM entry.
capacity: WRI GPPD; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 392 MW, Skaerbaekvaerket is well above the median gas plant in Denmark (55 MW). 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.
78,785 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
- 12%, from 400 GWh of reported generation
- Generation trend
- 602 GWh in 2015 and 400 GWh in 2017 (−34%)
- Highest and lowest year
- 2015: 602 GWh; 2017: 400 GWh
- Share of Denmark gas capacity
- 32.5% of 1,206 MW across 12 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 4 of 11 dated gas plants in Denmark 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).
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 55.5°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 46% 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: 78/100 — 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 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 gas power plant of 12 in Denmark by capacity.
Denmark has 12 gas power plants in this dataset, together about 1,206 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Vandel · Solar · 274.5 MW · South Denmark
- Horsens power station · Gas · 34 MW · Midtjylland
- Fyns power station · Coal · 362 MW · South Denmark
- Sonderjylland · Solar · 2.1 MW · South Denmark
- Enstedvaerket · Coal · 626 MW · South Denmark
- Draeby Fed · Wind · 9.2 MW · South Denmark
Location
Coordinates 55.513, 9.6128 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Skaerbaekvaerket?
Skaerbaekvaerket is a 392 MW gas power plant in South Denmark, Denmark, commissioned in 1997.
How much electricity does Skaerbaekvaerket generate?
Skaerbaekvaerket generates about 400 GWh of electricity per year.
How much CO₂ does Skaerbaekvaerket emit?
Skaerbaekvaerket has measured emissions of about 78,785 tonnes of CO₂ per year (EU ETS verified (EUTL 2023)).