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 Gasoline
- How much tax do we pay on a gallon of gasoline and on a gallon of diesel fuel?
- Does EIA publish inflation-adjusted gasoline and diesel fuel prices?
- When was the last refinery built in the United States?
- How much ethanol is in gasoline, and how does it affect fuel economy?
- What do I pay for in a gallon of gasoline and diesel fuel?
- How much gasoline does the United States consume?
- What are the projections for U.S. gasoline and diesel fuel prices?
- Does EIA publish energy consumption and price data for cities, counties, or by zip code?
- How many gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel are made from one barrel of oil?
- Does EIA project energy production, consumption, or prices for individual states?
- Does EIA publish gasoline prices by city, county, or zip code?
- Does EIA have historical gasoline prices for each state?
- How much carbon dioxide is produced from U.S. gasoline and diesel fuel consumption?
- What other motor gasoline consumption data sources are available?
- How do we calculate product supplied?