2011-2021 GHGRP Sector Profile
Power Plants
2011-2021 Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program Sector Profile:
Power Plants
Tableof Contents
POWER PLANTS SECTOR 2
Highlights 2
About This Sector 2
Who Reports? 3
Reported Emissions 4
Power Plants Sector: Emissions Trends, 2011 to 2021 7
Emission Calculation Methods Available for Use 11
Data Verification and Analysis 12
Glossary 12
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2011-2021 GHGRP Sector Profile
Power Plants
POWER PLANTS SECTOR
All emissions presented here are as of8/12/2022 and exclude biogenic carbon dioxide (C02). All greenhouse gas
(GHG) emission data displayedin units of carbon dioxide equivalent (C02e) reflect the global warming potential
(GWP) values from Table A-l of 40 CFR 98, which is generally based on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change's Fourth AssessmentReport(IPCCAR4).
Highlights
Greenhouse gas (GHG] emissions from the Power Plants Sector decreasedby 28% from
2011to2021.
GHG emissions from the Power Plants Sector increased by 6.3% from 2020 to 2 021. The
annual increase in emissions observed in 2 021 resulted from the increased demand for
electricity generation during 2021 as the economy recovered from the COVID -19 pandemic.
Although the national net generation of electricity has remained consistentfrom 2 011 to
2021, the GHG emissions per unit of electricity generation decreased from 541.9 to 386.1
MT CC>2e per thousand megawatt-hours, a 29% drop. Several factors contributed to this
reduction in emissions per unit of electricity generated, including the increaseduse of
renewable energy sources and more electric power generation from natural gas
combustion.1
About This Sector
The Power Plants Sector consists predominantly of facilities that produce electricity by combusting
fossil fuels or biomass. The sector also includes facilities thatproduce steam, heated air, or cooled
air by combusting fuels.
Two groups of power plants are requiredto report to the GHGRP. The first group includes facilities
that are required to report CO2 mass emissions on a year-round basis to the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA] under 40 CFRPart75: facilities subject to the Acid Rain Program (ARP]
and facilities in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI] (refer to https://www.rggi.org/],
Facilities subj ect to the ARP have combustion units thatserve electricity generators that exceed a
25-MW nameplate capacity and facilities subject to the RGGI have combustion units thatserve
electricity generators thatare equal to or greater than a 2 5 -MW nameplate capacity. These facilities
are subject to Subpart D of the GHGRP. For more details on the reporting requirements of power
plants subject to Parts 7 5 and 9 8, refer to the following link.
The second group includes combustion units that are located at facilities with primary North
American Industry Classification System (NAICS] codes of2 21330 (Steam and Air -Conditioning
1 Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2020. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. April 2022. EPA 430-
R-22-003. Available at: https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/inventoiy-us-greenhouse-gas-emissions-and-sinks-1990-2020
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2011-2021 GHGRP Sector Profile
Power Plants
Supply2] and 221 lxx (Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution], and emit greater
than 25,000 metric tons (MT] C02e per year from stationary fuel combustion. These facilities are
subject to Subpart C of the GHGRP. Table 1 includes details ofthe applicability of each reporter
category as well as their corresponding reportingschedules.
Tablel: Power Plants Sector- Reporting Schedule by Subpart
Subpart Source Category
Applicability
First
Reporting
Year
D Electricity
All electric generating units subject to the ARP or otherwise
2010
generation
required to report CO2 mass emissions to EPA year-round
under 40 CFR Part 75
C General stationary Facilities that reported a primary NAICS code of 221330 or 2010
fuel combustion 2211xx, and emit> 25,000 MT CC>2e per year from stationary
fuel combustion
Who Reports?
In 2 021,1,32 6 facilities in the Power Plants Sector submitted GHG reports. The Power Plants Sector
represents 17.4% ofthe facilities reporting direct emissions (i.e., direct emitters] to the GHGRP.
Total reported emissions from the sector were 1,589.1 million metric tons (MMT] CChe, which
represented 58.7% oftotal direct emissions reported to the GHGRP. In 2020, power plants
represented approximately 25% oftotal U.S. GHG emissions3. Table 2 shows the number of
reporters by subsector by year.
2 Establishments primarily engaged in providing steam, heated air, or cooled air. The steam distribution may be through main
lines.
3 T otal U.S. GHG emissions for 2020 were 5.981MMT CChe, as reported in the Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and
Sinks: 1990-2020. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. April 14,2022. EPA 430-R-22-003. Available at:
https://www.epa.gov/system/flles/documents/2022-04/us-ghg-inventoiy-2022-main-text.pdf.
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2011-2021 GHGRP Sector Profile
Power Plants
Table 2: Power Plants Sector - Number of Reporters (2011-2021)
Power Plants Sector
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
Electricity generation
1,286
1,296
1276
1,251
1197
1,153
1,134
1,149
1,126
1,106
1,096
Other power and steam
plants
306
313
303
298
290
258
245
242
245
233
230
Total 1,592 1,609 1579a 1,549 1487b 1,411 1,379 1,391 1,371 1,339 1,326
Note:
a Beginning in 2013, facilities became eligible to discontinue reporting if their emissions were less than 15,000 MT
CC>2e peryearfor each of the previous three reporting years. More information on when a facility is eligible to stop
reporting is available. Facilities that have stopped reporting can be identified in Facility Level Information on
Greenhouse Gases Tool (FLIGHT)by usingthe drop-down menutitled "Filter by Status."
b Beginning in 2015, facilities became eligible to discontinue reporting if their emissions were less than 25,000 MT
C02e peryearfor each of the previous five reporting years. More information on when a facility is eligible to stop
reporting is available. Facilities that have stopped reporting can be identified in FLIGHT by using the drop-down
menu titled "Filter by Status."
Reported Emissions
Figure 1 shows the breakdown of emissions by subsector in Reporting Year 2021.
Figure 1: 2021 Total Reported Emissions from the Power Plants Sector, by Subsector
Figure 2 shows the locations of power plant facilities in the continental U.S. Sizes of circles
correspond to the quantity of emissions reported by that facility. There are also power plants
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2011-2021 GHGRP Sector Profile
Power Plants
located in Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam
(https://www.epa.gov/ghgreporting/ghgrp-power-plants].
Readers can identifythe largest emitting facilities by visiting the FLIGHT website
(http://ghgdata.epa.gov/ghgp/main.do].
Figure 2: Figure 2: Location and Relative Emissions for Facilities Reporting in the
Power Plants Sector (2021)
GHGRP, 2021
Power Plants Sector Emissions (Metric Tons C02e)
£ 20,000.000
0 15,000.000
# 10.000.000
5,000.000
o 0
Note: Each circle on the map corresponds to a facility reporting in the metals sector. Both the size and color of each
circle are continuousgradients corresponding to a facility's emissions.
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2011-2021 GHGRP Sector Profile
Power Plants
Figure 3: Direct Emissions by State from the Power Plants Sector
Texas
Florida -
Pennsylvania -
Indiana
Ohio
West Virginia
Missouri
Kentucky
Michigan
Illinois
Alabama
Georgia
North Carolina
Louisiana
Wisconsin
Wyoming ¦
Arizona
California
Colorado
Arkansas
Utah
North Dakota
Oklahoma
New York
Mississippi
South Carolina
Iowa
Virginia
Tennessee
Minnesota
Kansas
Nebraska
New Mexico
Nevada
New Jersey
Montana
Maryland
Washington
Connecticut
Oregon
Massachusetts
Hawaii
Rhode Island
Alaska
South Dakota
New Hampshire ¦ I
Idaho -1
Delaware ¦ I
Maine ¦ I
Million Metric Tons C02e
Note: Represents total emissions reported to the GHGRP from this sector. Addition al emissions may occur at
facilities that do not report emissions to the GHGRP, such as those below the reporting threshold. Click here to view
the most current information using FLIGHT.
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2011-2021 GHGRP Sector Profile
Power Plants
Power Plants Sector: Emissions Trends, 2011 to 2021
In general, there is a downward trend in emissions from both ofthe subsectors (refer to Table 3],
Table 4 breaks down the emissions by the GHG emitted.
Table 3: Power Plants Sector - Emissions by Subsector (MMT C02e) (2011-2021)
Power
Plants
Subsector
2011
2012 2013 2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
Electricity
generation
2,147.4
2,018.8 2,039.3 2,037.9
1,910.7
1,820.3
1,748.8
1,763.0
1,617.3
1,448.8
1,549.6
Other
power and
steam
plants
74.3
70.7 66.5 63.8
61.6
54.8
50.6
51.9
51.3
46.2
39.5
Total 2,221.7 2,089.5 2,105.7 2,101.7 1,972.3
Note: Totals may not sum due to independent rounding.
1,875.1
1,799.4
1,814.8
1,668.7
1,495.0
1,589.1
Table4: Power Plants Sector- Emissions by GHG (MMTCfhe)
Greenhouse
Gas
2011
2012 2013 2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
Carbon
Dioxide
2,208.3
2,077.6 2,093.6 2,089.3
1,961.3
1,865.0
1,789.5
1,805.3
1,660.5
1,488.2
1,581.4
Methane
4.2
3.7 3.7 4.0
3.6
3.3
3.2
3.1
2.7
2.3
2.5
Nitrous
Oxide
9.2
8.2 8.4 8.4
7.4
6.8
6.6
6.4
5.5
4.5
5.1
Total 2,221.7 2,089.5 2,105.7 2,101.7 1,972.3 1,875.1 1,799.4 1,814.8 1,668.7 1,495.0 1,589.1
Note: Totals may not sum due to independent rounding.
GH GRP emissions reportedby the power plants sector decreased significantly from 2011 to 2021,
from 2,222 million metric tons (MMT] C02ein2011to 1,589 MMT CChein 2021, a decrease of
28.5%. This overall decrease in emissions resulted from longer -termtrends related to changes in
the composition of fuels used in electricity generation and an increase in renewable electricity
generation. Reported emissions for 2021 increased by 6.3% from 2020. The annual increase in
emissions observed in 2021 resulted from the increased demand for electricity generation during
2021 as the economy recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic.
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2011-2021 GHGRP Sector Profile
Power Plants
From 2011 through 2021, national net generation of electricity remained consistent with an
increase of 0.4%, including a 2.6% increase between 2020 and 2021.4*5 This increase in net
generation follows a decrease of 2.9% between 2019 and 2020 due to the COVID -19 pandemic
which beganin2020. Although the national net generation of electricity has remained consistent
from 2011to2021,theGHG emissions per unit of electricity generation decreased from 541.9to
386.1 MT CC>2e per thousand megawatt-hours, a 29% drop. Several factors contributedtothis
reduction in emissions per unit of electricity generated, including the increaseduse of renewable
energy sources and more electric power generation from natural gas combustion.6 In 2 011,42.3%
of U.S. electricity was generatedfrom coal and 24.7% from natural gas; but by 2021,21.8% of
electricity was generatedfrom coal and 38.3% from natural gas. Over the same timeframe,
electricity generated from renewable sources increased from 12.5% to 2 0.1%.78 Electricity
generated from renewable energy results in no GHG emissions from power plants; and generation
from natural gas, particularly in more efficient combined-cycle generators, produces lower
greenhouse gas emissions per unit of electricity generated than generation from coal.9
F igure 4-1 shows the progression of total net power generation from 2011 to 2021 by technology
type and Figure 4-2 shows a breakdown of this information for renewable sources by renewable
technology type.
4 U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power MonthlyT able 1.1. Net Generation by Energy Source: Total (All
Sectors], 2011- June 2021 (accessed September 17,2021] at:
https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.php?t=epmt_l_01
5 U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly Table 1.1. Net Generation by Energy Source: Total (All
Sectors], 2012- June 2022 (accessed September 19,2022] at:
https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.php?t=epmt_l_01
6 Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2020. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. April 2022. EPA 430-
R-22-003. Available at: https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/inventoiy-us-greenhouse-gas-emissions-and-sinks-1990-2020
7 U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly Table 1.1. Net Generation by Energy Source: Total (All
Sectors], 2011- June 2021 (accessed September 17,2021] at:
https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.php?t=epmt_l_01
8 U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly Table 1.1. Net Generation by Energy Source: Total (All
Sectors], 2012- June 2022 (accessed September 19,2022] at:
https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/epm_table_grapher.php?t=epmt_l_01
9 U.S. Department of Energy, Environment Baseline, Volume 1: Greenhouse Gas Emissions fromtheU.S. Power Sector. June 2016.
Available at: https://energy.gov/sites/prod/flles/2017/01/f34/Environment Baseline Vol. l--Greenhouse Gas Emissions from
the U.S. Power Sector.pdf
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2011-2021 GHGRP Sector Profile
Power Plants
Figure 4: Net Generating Output by GeneratingTechnologyfor the Power Plants
Sector (2011-2021)'
Figure 4-1. Net Generating Output by Generating Technology
3000
c
o
CO
£ 1000-
cD
0
"53
Technology Type
Steam Turbines
Combined Cycle
Renewable Sources
Simple Cycle
Internal Combustion Engines
Other
Fuel Cell
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Year
Figure 4-2. Net Generating Output of Renewable Sources
400-
300
C
O
2oo-
o
c3
V
0
S 100
o
O
Renewable Technology Type
Hydro
Wind
Photovoltaic
Geothermal
I I
I I
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Year
0 Net generating output data obtained from the EIA Form 923 Reports.
b "Steam Turbines" include generators powered by nuclearplants orthe combustion of coat, oil, natural gas, or
biomass; but do not include combined-cycle steam turbines.
Figure 5 illustrates the shift between 2011 and 2021 for coal and natural gas electricity generation.
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2011-2021 GHGRP Sector Profile
Power Plants
Figure 5: Power Plant GHG Emissions and Electricity Generation by Fuel ab
2,000 2,500
1,800
1,600 ^ . 2,000
1.400 I fr S > / R
200
0
c ^ m w "" »» s ¦ u
/T nT j m
1,200 | ^ I -K ¦ _ _ ¦ 1,500 5
% 2
§ 1,000 x
To N ^
| 800 _______ 1,000
ai
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2011-2021 GHGRP Sector Profile
Power Plants
Table7: Power Plants Sector- Number ofReporters by Emissions Range in MMT
C02e (2021)
Power Plants Subsector
0-0.025
0.025-0.05
0.05-0.1
0.1-0.25
0.25-1
> 1
Electricity generation
116
85
86
142
256
411
Other power and steam plants
60
55
41
35
34
5
Total 176 140 127 177 290 416
Figure 7: Percentage of Facilities in the Power Plants Sector at Various Emission
Ranges
Million Metric Tons C02e
Emission Calculation Methods Available for Use
Facilities in the Power Plants Sector can use several different methodologies to calculate their
emissions. Electricity-generating combustion units that are subject to Subpart D must report CO 2
emissions according to the applicable requirements of 40 CFRPart75. Part 75 provides several
monitoring options. The options that are available for a unit depend on how the unit is classified. In
general, ifa unitis coal-fired or combusts any type of solid fuel, the use of a Continuous Emissions
Monitoring System (CEMS] is required. Ifaunitis classified as an oil- or gas-firedunit, itmay
qualify for an alternative calculation methodology instead ofusinga CEMS. The four Subpart D
options are:
CEMS - Operate a CEMS for CO2.
Equation G-l of Appendix G (40 CFRPart 75) - Calculate daily CO2 emissions from
company records of fuel usage and periodic fuel sampling and analysis (to determine the
percent of carbon in the fuel].
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2011-2021 GHGRP Sector Profile
Power Plants
Equation G-4 of Appendix G (40 CFR Part 75) - Gas- and oil-fired units can calculate
hourly CO2 emissions using heat input rate measurements made with certified fuel flow-
meters together with fuel-specific, carbon-based "F-factors."
LowMass Emissions (LME) Units - Estimate CO2 emissions using fuel-specific default
emission factors and either estimated or reported hourly heatinput. To qualify for using the
LME unit provisions, a unit must be gas-fired or oil-fired, and its sulfur dioxide and/or
nitrogen oxide emissions must not exceed certain annual and/or ozone season limits.
Other power and steam plants not subject to Subpart D must report under Sub part C, and the
reporter generally mustuse one of four calculation methodologies (i.e., tiers] to calculate CO 2
emissions, depending on fuel type and unit size. The calculation methodologies for SubpartC are
explained in more detail here. Units thatare not subject to Subpart D but are requiredby states to
monitor emissions according to Part 75 can reporttheir CO2 emissions under SubpartC using Part
7 5 calculation methods and monitoring data thatthey already collect under Part 7 5 (e.g., heat input
and fuel use].
For both Subpart C and Subpart D reporters, methane and nitrous oxide mass emissions are also
required to be reported for fuels that are included in Table C -2 of Part 98. These are calculated
using either an estimated or measured fuel quantity, default or measuredhigher heating value
(HH V], and default emission factors.
Data Verification and Analysis
As a part of the reporting and verification process, EPA evaluates annual GH G reports with
electronic checks. EPA contacts facilities regarding potential reporting issues and facilities resubmit
reports if errors are identified. Additional information on EPA's verification process is available
here.
Glossary
ARP means the Acid Rain Program authorizedby Title IV of the Clean Air Act.
CEMS means continuous emissions monitoring system.
CFR means the Code of Federal Regulations.
CC>2e means carbon dioxide equivalent, which is a metric used to compare emissions from various
GHGs based upon their GWP. The C02e for a gas is calculated by multiplying the mass ofthe gas by
the associated GWP.
Direct emitters are facilities that combust fuels or otherwise put GHGs into the atmosphere
directly from their facility. Alternatively, suppliers are entities that supply certain fossil fuels or
fluorinated gases into the economy that - when combusted, released, or oxidized - emit GHGs into
the atmosphere.
EIA refers to the Energy I nformation Administration.
FLIGHT refers to EPA's GHG data publication tool, named the Facility Level Information on
GreenHouse Gases Tool (http://ghgdata.epa.gov/ghgp/main.do],
GHGRP means EPA's Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (40 CFR Part 98],
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2011-2021 GHGRP Sector Profile
Power Plants
GHGRP vs. GHG Inventory: EPA's Greenhouse Gas ReportingProgram (GHGRP] collects and
disseminates annual GHG data from individual facilities and suppliers across the U.S. economy. EPA
also develops the annual Inventory ofU.S. Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks (GHG Inventory] to
tracktotal national emissions and sinks of GH Gs to meet U.S. government commitments to the
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The GHGRP and GHGInventorydatasets
are complementary and may inform each other over time. However, there are also important
differences in the data and approach. For more information, please refer to
http://www.epa.gov/ghgreporting/greenhouse-gas-reporting-program-and-us-inventory-
greenhouse-gas-emissions-and-sinks.
GWP means global warming potential, which is a measure of the total energy that a gas absorbs
over a particular period oftime (usually 100 years], compared to CO 2. The GWP for CO2 is one.
HHV means higher heating value.
IPCC AR4 refers to the Fourth Assessment Reportby the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change. Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the
Fourth Assessment Reportofthe Intergovernmental Panel on ClimateChange [Cor e Writing Team,
Pachauri, R.K. and A. Reisinger (eds.]]. IPCC, Geneva, Switzerland, 2007. The AR4 values also can be
found in the current version of Table A-l in Subpart A of 40 CFRPart98.
MMT means million metric tons.
NAICS means the North American Industry Classification System, the standardused by federal
statistical agencies to classify business establishments into industrial categories for collecting and
publishing statistical data related to the U.S. economy.
RGGI refers to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, which is a cooperative regional effort among
ten northeastern states to reduce CO2 emissions from the power sector through a cap and trade
program.
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