| Table 4.08.A. Capacity Factors for Utility Scale Generators Primarily Using Fossil Fuels |
| Coal | Natural Gas | Petroleum | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year/Month | Combined Cycle | Gas Turbine | Steam Turbine | Internal Combustion | Steam Turbine | Gas Turbine | Internal Combustion | |||||||||
| Time Adjusted Capacity | Capacity Factor | Time Adjusted Capacity | Capacity Factor | Time Adjusted Capacity | Capacity Factor | Time Adjusted Capacity | Capacity Factor | Time Adjusted Capacity | Capacity Factor | Time Adjusted Capacity | Capacity Factor | Time Adjusted Capacity | Capacity Factor | Time Adjusted Capacity | Capacity Factor | |
| Annual Data | ||||||||||||||||
| 2011 | 314,056.1 | 62.8% | 210,518.7 | 44.3% | 119,144.1 | 7.9% | 78,898.6 | 11.7% | 2,822.5 | 8.4% | 26,683.0 | 12.6% | 18,397.7 | 1.3% | 4,986.0 | 2.2% |
| 2012 | 304,974.9 | 56.2% | 217,938.2 | 52.2% | 119,319.4 | 8.9% | 74,200.2 | 13.3% | 2,988.8 | 7.3% | 22,483.7 | 13.7% | 17,773.5 | 1.3% | 4,942.5 | 2.0% |
| 2013 | 302,604.4 | 59.4% | 219,902.9 | 48.8% | 123,025.6 | 8.3% | 75,810.5 | 11.2% | 2,996.2 | 8.8% | 20,022.9 | 12.6% | 17,224.1 | 0.9% | 4,999.4 | 2.1% |
| 2014 | 299,064.7 | 60.5% | 224,183.2 | 48.6% | 124,736.9 | 8.3% | 75,049.1 | 10.3% | 3,026.7 | 10.8% | 18,057.0 | 13.0% | 16,791.5 | 1.2% | 5,011.3 | 2.1% |
| 2015 | 286,082.7 | 54.3% | 231,467.5 | 55.8% | 123,444.3 | 9.8% | 80,348.0 | 11.3% | 3,507.8 | 11.9% | 14,965.4 | 14.0% | 16,122.8 | 1.3% | 5,075.2 | 2.1% |
| 2016 | 269,477.1 | 52.8% | 236,442.8 | 55.4% | 125,148.4 | 11.0% | 81,225.1 | 12.3% | 3,684.3 | 11.5% | 13,993.7 | 12.2% | 15,114.0 | 1.3% | 5,082.8 | 2.3% |
| 2017 | 259,930.2 | 53.1% | 242,839.1 | 51.2% | 125,806.6 | 9.6% | 79,149.4 | 10.7% | 4,225.5 | 11.6% | 13,290.9 | 13.7% | 14,275.3 | 1.0% | 5,153.3 | 2.1% |
| 2018 | 246,866.8 | 53.6% | 254,403.3 | 55.1% | 126,763.4 | 11.9% | 76,177.8 | 12.6% | 4,446.6 | 13.0% | 13,300.1 | 14.2% | 14,234.9 | 1.3% | 5,289.7 | 1.9% |
| 2019 | 235,089.3 | 47.5% | 266,846.5 | 57.3% | 128,832.5 | 11.3% | 72,797.3 | 14.1% | 4,848.3 | 15.3% | 11,214.7 | 12.8% | 14,009.7 | 1.0% | 5,287.8 | 2.0% |
| 2020 | 220,623.2 | 40.5% | 274,300.4 | 57.1% | 129,085.6 | 11.6% | 75,462.3 | 14.2% | 5,123.0 | 15.1% | 8,443.3 | 13.9% | 13,875.8 | 1.2% | 5,300.7 | 1.8% |
| 2021 | 212,587.0 | 49.1% | 277,618.5 | 55.0% | 130,103.4 | 11.7% | 74,003.4 | 12.5% | 5,171.8 | 18.2% | 8,385.5 | 14.2% | 13,729.8 | 1.6% | 5,522.7 | 1.8% |
| Year 2019 | ||||||||||||||||
| January | 241,507.5 | 56.6% | 261,918.1 | 54.6% | 128,218.2 | 9.6% | 73,728.3 | 8.4% | 4,620.8 | 12.9% | 11,347.1 | 12.8% | 14,037.5 | 1.4% | 5,285.8 | 2.0% |
| February | 239,252.5 | 50.4% | 261,918.1 | 55.8% | 128,218.2 | 9.9% | 73,730.3 | 6.9% | 4,695.3 | 14.2% | 11,347.1 | 12.5% | 14,037.5 | 0.9% | 5,287.8 | 1.9% |
| March | 238,021.5 | 45.0% | 261,601.1 | 51.0% | 128,164.0 | 9.3% | 73,188.3 | 9.3% | 4,695.3 | 12.8% | 11,347.1 | 11.8% | 14,018.5 | 0.6% | 5,287.4 | 1.7% |
| April | 236,625.1 | 35.7% | 264,436.4 | 45.8% | 128,276.4 | 9.7% | 73,191.0 | 10.9% | 4,878.7 | 12.5% | 11,201.1 | 10.9% | 14,018.5 | 0.8% | 5,283.2 | 1.7% |
| May | 235,815.1 | 41.7% | 265,631.1 | 49.2% | 128,705.3 | 10.2% | 73,191.0 | 13.7% | 4,881.2 | 12.4% | 11,201.1 | 16.4% | 14,018.5 | 1.0% | 5,290.0 | 1.9% |
| June | 235,767.5 | 46.9% | 268,823.5 | 59.9% | 128,828.7 | 11.2% | 72,899.9 | 16.7% | 4,881.2 | 14.4% | 11,201.1 | 15.6% | 14,008.2 | 1.1% | 5,289.2 | 1.9% |
| July | 234,785.0 | 58.3% | 269,658.1 | 70.5% | 129,173.4 | 15.0% | 72,853.9 | 24.9% | 4,903.2 | 20.1% | 11,201.1 | 17.5% | 14,008.2 | 1.1% | 5,293.9 | 2.1% |
| August | 234,785.0 | 54.6% | 269,658.1 | 71.6% | 129,318.4 | 14.9% | 72,853.9 | 26.1% | 4,903.2 | 20.4% | 11,201.1 | 16.7% | 14,002.5 | 1.3% | 5,292.1 | 2.2% |
| September | 233,847.0 | 51.4% | 269,658.1 | 64.2% | 129,278.4 | 12.9% | 72,853.9 | 19.8% | 4,903.2 | 17.4% | 11,134.1 | 14.4% | 14,002.5 | 1.2% | 5,292.6 | 2.4% |
| October | 233,086.4 | 39.3% | 269,110.5 | 54.5% | 129,348.4 | 11.6% | 72,211.9 | 14.6% | 4,903.2 | 15.5% | 11,134.1 | 8.8% | 14,002.5 | 1.2% | 5,292.1 | 2.3% |
| November | 229,164.4 | 46.0% | 269,670.1 | 52.2% | 129,314.4 | 10.9% | 72,038.9 | 8.7% | 4,903.2 | 16.1% | 11,134.1 | 7.6% | 14,002.5 | 0.8% | 5,292.9 | 2.0% |
| December | 228,657.4 | 43.3% | 269,766.0 | 57.4% | 129,098.3 | 10.2% | 70,909.4 | 8.4% | 5,001.6 | 14.1% | 11,134.1 | 8.6% | 13,962.5 | 0.8% | 5,267.4 | 2.1% |
| Year 2020 | ||||||||||||||||
| January | 224,000.9 | 39.4% | 270,457.6 | 58.9% | 129,134.8 | 10.8% | 75,759.1 | 9.4% | 5,022.2 | 14.8% | 8,509.9 | 13.7% | 14,106.6 | 1.3% | 5,302.8 | 2.1% |
| February | 223,958.4 | 36.8% | 270,600.6 | 59.1% | 129,212.5 | 11.1% | 75,759.1 | 9.4% | 5,021.6 | 14.0% | 8,509.9 | 10.7% | 14,082.6 | 1.1% | 5,304.8 | 1.9% |
| March | 223,101.0 | 31.2% | 271,881.9 | 53.0% | 129,140.8 | 10.8% | 75,735.3 | 10.7% | 5,024.6 | 14.9% | 8,509.9 | 14.7% | 13,850.6 | 1.1% | 5,309.8 | 1.7% |
| April | 223,121.0 | 25.8% | 272,881.9 | 48.0% | 129,138.0 | 9.4% | 75,735.3 | 10.2% | 5,122.3 | 12.9% | 8,509.9 | 13.6% | 13,850.6 | 0.8% | 5,302.3 | 1.6% |
| May | 222,401.0 | 28.8% | 274,126.1 | 48.4% | 129,126.0 | 9.9% | 75,597.3 | 11.9% | 5,160.7 | 12.3% | 8,509.9 | 13.0% | 13,850.6 | 1.0% | 5,302.7 | 1.5% |
| June | 221,034.1 | 41.8% | 275,883.2 | 60.0% | 128,925.2 | 12.7% | 75,478.8 | 18.3% | 5,153.4 | 14.9% | 8,509.9 | 15.6% | 13,850.6 | 1.2% | 5,295.2 | 1.7% |
| July | 221,034.1 | 55.3% | 275,883.2 | 71.6% | 129,015.4 | 16.8% | 75,461.0 | 28.4% | 5,155.8 | 18.3% | 8,509.9 | 16.2% | 13,850.6 | 1.7% | 5,301.2 | 1.9% |
| August | 219,894.1 | 56.5% | 275,897.3 | 69.9% | 129,136.8 | 14.5% | 75,449.0 | 24.1% | 5,157.0 | 18.7% | 8,509.9 | 16.3% | 13,850.6 | 1.4% | 5,309.1 | 1.9% |
| September | 218,736.1 | 44.1% | 275,939.6 | 60.5% | 129,076.1 | 11.4% | 75,449.0 | 15.2% | 5,158.2 | 16.0% | 8,509.9 | 11.4% | 13,850.6 | 1.1% | 5,295.0 | 1.8% |
| October | 217,597.1 | 37.7% | 275,952.2 | 53.5% | 129,035.1 | 11.4% | 75,111.0 | 14.8% | 5,161.4 | 15.8% | 8,509.9 | 9.2% | 13,826.6 | 1.1% | 5,295.0 | 1.9% |
| November | 217,184.1 | 39.6% | 275,967.2 | 47.6% | 128,966.1 | 9.4% | 75,111.0 | 9.0% | 5,163.0 | 14.5% | 8,509.9 | 15.0% | 13,826.6 | 1.0% | 5,296.4 | 1.5% |
| December | 215,554.2 | 49.1% | 276,007.2 | 54.3% | 129,120.9 | 10.3% | 74,918.0 | 8.4% | 5,172.7 | 13.9% | 7,723.9 | 17.4% | 13,721.9 | 1.2% | 5,294.2 | 1.8% |
| Year 2021 | ||||||||||||||||
| January | 214,601.5 | 51.5% | 275,710.6 | 54.7% | 129,543.1 | 8.2% | 74,184.1 | 7.8% | 5,121.3 | 15.1% | 8,685.9 | 15.9% | 13,743.2 | 1.0% | 5,537.5 | 1.4% |
| February | 214,601.5 | 61.1% | 276,710.6 | 51.3% | 129,522.1 | 10.3% | 74,184.7 | 11.9% | 5,119.0 | 17.1% | 8,685.9 | 15.0% | 13,743.2 | 2.2% | 5,533.6 | 2.0% |
| March | 214,052.7 | 39.5% | 276,584.0 | 45.3% | 129,522.1 | 8.0% | 74,184.7 | 7.6% | 5,120.3 | 15.9% | 8,685.9 | 13.7% | 13,743.2 | 1.3% | 5,539.0 | 1.8% |
| April | 213,710.7 | 35.7% | 276,614.0 | 45.5% | 129,755.4 | 10.4% | 74,184.7 | 10.0% | 5,120.3 | 16.8% | 8,685.9 | 9.0% | 13,743.2 | 1.4% | 5,536.4 | 1.7% |
| May | 213,152.2 | 40.9% | 276,682.0 | 47.6% | 130,036.3 | 9.7% | 74,081.6 | 10.1% | 5,180.3 | 14.4% | 8,685.9 | 11.9% | 13,743.2 | 1.3% | 5,535.9 | 1.2% |
| June | 212,180.1 | 58.1% | 277,202.0 | 61.8% | 130,036.3 | 15.0% | 74,081.1 | 18.0% | 5,171.9 | 20.0% | 8,173.5 | 10.5% | 13,734.1 | 2.0% | 5,530.7 | 1.6% |
| July | 212,180.1 | 65.4% | 277,202.0 | 67.9% | 130,070.3 | 16.4% | 73,989.3 | 20.0% | 5,169.6 | 22.6% | 8,173.5 | 16.2% | 13,734.1 | 1.8% | 5,512.6 | 1.4% |
| August | 212,180.1 | 65.6% | 277,971.5 | 68.4% | 130,410.4 | 17.0% | 73,989.3 | 21.3% | 5,194.0 | 23.0% | 8,173.5 | 17.5% | 13,734.1 | 2.3% | 5,517.4 | 1.8% |
| September | 212,180.1 | 52.8% | 278,530.7 | 58.5% | 130,499.4 | 11.1% | 73,840.3 | 14.5% | 5,199.4 | 20.3% | 8,173.5 | 15.8% | 13,734.1 | 1.5% | 5,512.0 | 2.2% |
| October | 211,277.1 | 40.7% | 278,545.7 | 53.2% | 130,499.4 | 12.4% | 73,775.5 | 12.7% | 5,212.2 | 18.3% | 8,173.5 | 16.0% | 13,717.5 | 1.6% | 5,511.2 | 2.2% |
| November | 211,264.5 | 39.1% | 279,817.8 | 51.6% | 130,663.1 | 11.6% | 73,779.4 | 9.1% | 5,221.7 | 17.3% | 8,173.5 | 15.9% | 13,700.1 | 1.5% | 5,508.5 | 2.0% |
| December | 209,825.7 | 39.6% | 279,817.8 | 53.6% | 130,644.1 | 9.6% | 73,779.4 | 7.5% | 5,227.7 | 17.1% | 8,173.5 | 13.8% | 13,689.1 | 1.2% | 5,498.2 | 2.0% |
| Values are final. Time adjusted capacity for month rows is the summer capacity of generators in operation for the entire month; units that began operation during the month or that retired during the month are excluded. Time adjusted capacity for year rows is a time weighted average of the month rows. Capacity factors are a comparison of net generation with available capacity. See the technical note for an explanation of how capacity factors are calculated. Sources: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-923, Power Plant Operations Report; U.S. Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-860, 'Annual Electric Generator Report' and Form EIA-860M, 'Monthly Update to the Annual Electric Generator Report.' |