How Much Coal
How Much Coal
kilowatthour of electricity?
The amount of fuel used to generate electricity depends on the efficiency or heat rate of the
generator (or power plant) and the heat content of the fuel. Power plant efficiencies (heat
rates) vary by types of generators, power plant emission controls, and other factors. Fuel
heat contents also vary.
Two formulas can be used to calculate the amount of fuel used to generate a kilowatthour
(kWh) of electricity:
Amount of fuel used per kWh = Heat rate (in Btu per kWh) / Fuel heat content (in
Btu per physical unit)
Kilowatthour generated per unit of fuel used = Fuel heat content (in Btu per
physical unit) / Heat rate (in Btu per kWh)
Calculation examples using these two formulas and the assumptions below:
Assumptions:
Power plant heat rates (for steam electric generators in 2014)
Coal = 10,080 Btu/kWh
Natural gas = 10,408 Btu/kWh
Petroleum = 10,156 Btu/kWh
Fuel heat contents (for fuels received by electric power industry in 2014)
Coal = 19,420,000 Btu per short ton (2,000 pounds) Note: Heat contents of coal vary
widely by types of coal.
Natural gas = 1,029,000 Btu per 1,000 cubic feet (Mcf)
Petroleum = 5,867,946 Btu per Barrel (42 gallons) Note: Heat contents vary by type of
petroleum product.
Last updated: February 29, 2016