The Ten Biggest Power Plants In America -- Not What You Think

[Marlin]

The Ten Biggest Power Plants In America -- Not What You Think


http://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesconca/2015/04/20/the-ten-biggest-power-plants-in-america-not-what-everyone-claims/?ss=energy

[Rennhack]

Spoiler Alert!

Nuclear has high Capacity Factor!

Energy Source         average cf         high cf
Coal                          65%                   75%
Natural gas                50%                   85%
Nuclear                    90%                   98% (Palo Verde Record)
Wind                         30%                   45%
Solar PV                    20%                   30%
Solar thermal             24%                   40%
Hydro                        40%                   45%
Geothermal                70%                   75%

Only three of the top ten are not nuclear power plants – one hydro, one gas and one coal.

[spoiler]Palo Verde Nuclear Station                    32,846,202,000 kWhs
Browns Ferry Nuclear Station               26,738,300,000 kWhs
Oconee Nuclear Generating Station     21,193,381,000 kWhs
South Texas Project Nuclear Station    20,651,667,000 kWhs
Grand Coulee Hydroelectric Station     20,266,322,000 kWhs
Braidwood Nuclear Station                     20,263,665,000 kWhs
West County Energy Center (NGCC)     19,764,922,000 kWhs
Byron Nuclear Generating Station        19,252,381,000 kWhs
Limerick Nuclear Generating Station   19,077,244,000 kWhs
Scherer Coal-fired Power Plant              18,894,546,000 kWhs[/spoiler]

I find it interesting that Geothermal has the second highest average Capacity Factor.

[GLW]

I find it interesting that Geothermal has the second highest average Capacity Factor.

All nukeworkers should know the basis for that,....

Nuclear Fission Confirmed as Source of More than Half of Earth's Heat

http://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/2011/07/18/nuclear-fission-confirmed-as-source-of-more-than-half-of-earths-heat/

Earth's core fission reactors have been burning for billions of years.

http://www.nature.com/news/2008/080515/full/news.2008.822.html

Radioactive Decay Fuels Earth's Inner Fires

http://www.livescience.com/15084-radioactive-decay-increases-earths-heat.html