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
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.
Quote from: Rennhack on Apr 20, 2015, 11:12
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
(http://i.livescience.com/images/i/000/018/070/original/earth-cutaway-110715-02.jpg)