What is the efficiency of different types of power plants?
Heat rate is one measure of the efficiency of electric generators and power plants that convert fuel into heat and then into electricity. The heat rate is the amount of energy used by an electrical generator or power plant to generate one kilowatthour (kWh) of electricity. We express heat rates in British thermal units (Btu) per net kWh generated. Net generation is the amount of electricity a power plant supplies to the power transmission line connected to the power plant. Net generation accounts for all the electricity the power plant consumes to operate the plant’s equipment and generators, such as fuel feeding systems, boiler water pumps, cooling equipment, and pollution control devices.
To express the efficiency of a generator or power plant as a percentage, divide the equivalent Btu content of a kWh of electricity (3,412 Btu) by the heat rate. For example, if the heat rate is 10,500 Btu, the efficiency is 33%. If the heat rate is 7,500 Btu, the efficiency is 45%.
In 2023, we changed our methodology for estimating energy consumption for generating electricity with renewable energy sources (geothermal, hydro, solar, and wind energy). You can read more about the change in the Monthly Energy Review (MER): Changes to the MER and Appendix E: Alternative Measures for the Energy Content of Noncombustible Renewables.
Learn more:
Historical average annual heat rates for fossil fuel and nuclear power plants
Average annual heat rates for specific types of fossil-fuel generators and nuclear power plants
Approximate Heat Rates for Electricity, and Heat Content of Electricity (average annual heat rates from 1949 to most recent year available)
Other FAQs about Electricity
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- How much electricity does a power plant generate?
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- Does EIA publish energy consumption and price data for cities, counties, or by zip code?
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- Does EIA publish electricity sales and price data by state and by utility?
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- Does EIA have county-level energy production data?
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- Does EIA project energy production, consumption, or prices for individual states?
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