Generating Units and Capacity in
Nebraska by Energy Source

At the beginning of 2008, Nebraska had 323 generating units (including 47 wind turbines) with a total of 7,423 megawatts capacity.  These units had 6,972 megawatts net summer capacity and 7,144 megawatts net winter capacity.

Most of the nameplate capacity came from generators using coal (43 percent), natural gas (29 percent), nuclear energy (18 percent), petroleum (five percent), and hydroelectric power (four percent).  Twenty-six (26) percent of the generating units used renewable fuels (hydroelectric power, wind, biomass, landfill gas, and solar) which contributed nearly six percent of the capacity.  Five (5) percent of the generating units used coal which contributed 43 percent of the state's electricity capacity, and less than one percent of the units used nuclear energy which contributed 18 percent.  Thirty-six (36) percent of the generating units used natural gas which contributed 29 percent of Nebraska's electricity capacity, and 32 percent of the units used petroleum which contributed five percent.

The Units and Capacity by Energy Source and Year of Initial Operation report, the Generating Units report, and the Annual Electricity Generation report are available for additional information.

A Note About Nameplate Capacity

Summer capacity and winter capacity is sometimes greater than nameplate capacity.  The nameplate gives the capacity rating of the generator when it operates at certain temperatures, pressures, and power factors.  With some modifications and with some margins that are built into generators, it is possible to exceed its nameplate.  It is not uncommon for a generator to exceed its nameplate.  The nameplate is usually not replaced and, in this case, the summer and winter capacity is often much higher than the nameplate value.  Normally, you expect summer and winter capacity to be below nameplate capacity and in most cases they are.



Number of Units and
Generating Capacity by Energy Source
Nebraska, 2008

(As of January 1)
Primary
Energy Source
Number of
Units or
Turbines
Generator Nameplate
Capacity

[Megawatts (MW)]
Net Summer
Capacity

(MW)
Net Winter
Capacity

(MW)
Biomass 7 4.5800 4.5770 4.5770
Coal 16 3,211.6000 3,203.7000 3,081.9000
Hydroelectric 21 326.6000 272.9000 276.4000
Landfill Gas 7 5.6000 5.6000 5.6000
Natural Gas 117 2,136.2000 1,889.0000 2,082.6000
Nuclear 2 1,303.0000 1,240.4000 1,298.8000
Petroleum 104 363.7000 330.4000 348.5000
Solar 2 0.0044 0.0044 0.0044
Wind 47 71.7700 25.3700 45.8700
Total 323 7,423.0544 6,971.9514 7,144.2514

Sources:  Electric Power Annual.  Energy Information Administration, Washington, DC.  Nebraska Energy Office, Lincoln, NE.

Note:  NA indicates not applicable.


The table and graphs were updated on June 3, 2009.  Typically, there is one year between updates.

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