Żarnowiec is a 780 MW hydro power station in Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland. It is operated by PGE. Based on reported annual generation of 256 GWh, it can supply roughly 73k homes. It ranks #31 of 246 Poland power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1983, it is around 43 years old — long-established. As a non-combustion source, it has no direct CO₂ emissions from generation. In context, hydro supplies about 1.0% of Poland's electricity; the national grid averages 589 gCO₂/kWh (31.5% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id WRI1019043.
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 · L100000603183; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 780 MW, Żarnowiec is well above the median hydro plant in Poland (4 MW). Technically it is described as pumped storage. Hydropower converts the energy of falling or flowing water into electricity; output depends on rainfall and reservoir level, and large dams also provide grid balancing and storage.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
Key facts
- Load factor
- 4%, from 256 GWh of reported generation
- Generation trend
- 341 GWh in 2015 and 256 GWh in 2017 (−25%)
- Highest and lowest year
- 2015: 341 GWh; 2017: 256 GWh
- Share of Poland hydro capacity
- 36.0% of 2,169 MW across 32 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 21 of 31 dated hydro plants in Poland 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 PGE. All plants by this company →
Local climate & thermal context
This hydro plant converts the energy of falling or flowing water through hydro turbines. It sits in a temperate oceanic climate (Köppen Cfb) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 54.7°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 56% 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: 82/100 — 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 corrosive environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C4 — High), with marine corrosion 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 hydro power plant of 32 in Poland by capacity.
Poland has 32 hydro power plants in this dataset, together about 2,169 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Zarnowiec Original nuclear power plant · Nuclear · 1,860 MW · Pomeranian Voivodeship
- FW Puck (Gnieżdżewo) · Wind · 22 MW · Pomeranian Voivodeship
- Lubiatowo-Kopalino nuclear power plant · Nuclear · 3,750 MW · Pomeranian Voivodeship
- EW Wojciechowo · Wind · 28 MW · Pomeranian Voivodeship
- EW Lotnisko · Wind · 94 MW · Pomeranian Voivodeship
- EC Władysławowo · Gas · 11 MW · Pomeranian Voivodeship
Location
Coordinates 54.7224, 18.0825 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Żarnowiec?
Żarnowiec is a 780 MW hydro power plant in Pomeranian Voivodeship, Poland, commissioned in 1983.
How much electricity does Żarnowiec generate?
Żarnowiec generates about 256 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates Żarnowiec?
Żarnowiec is operated by PGE.