From SourceWatch
From 1990 to 2007, the net capacity of the U.S. coal-fired power plant fleet remained virtually unchanged, increasing by only 7,617 megawatts (MW) or 2.5% during the entire 17-year period. The output of these plants, however, increased from 1,594,011 Gigawatt hours (Gwh) in 1990 to 2,020,572 Gwh in 2007, a 27% increase. This means that although the existing fleet was not growing in size, plants were being run more intensively. This is reflected in the average capacity factor of the fleet, which rose from 60% to 74% from 1990 to 2007. (Capacity factor refers to the ratio of the actual output of a plant to the theoretical maximum output if the plant ran continuously.)
Table 1: Coal-fired power plant capacity and generation[1][2]
| Year |
Net Summer Capacity (Megawatts) |
Generation (Gigawatt hours) |
Capacity Factor |
| 1950 |
N/A |
154,520 |
N/A |
| 1960 |
N/A |
403,067 |
N/A |
| 1970 |
N/A |
704,394 |
N/A |
| 1980 |
N/A |
1,161,562 |
N/A |
| 1990 |
302,296 |
1,594,011 |
60% |
| 2000 |
310,198 |
1,966,265 |
72% |
| 2005 |
309,000 |
2,013,179 |
74% |
| 2007 |
309,913 |
2,020,572 |
74% |
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References
- ↑ "Electricity Net Generation: Electric Power Sector, 1949-2007," U.S. Energy Information Administration, Annual Energy Review, Table 8.2b
- ↑ "Electric Net Summer Capacity: Electric Power Sector by Plant Type, 1989-2007," U.S. Energy Information Administration, Annual Energy Review, Table 8.11c
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