U.S. energy capacity factors by source 2021

Nuclear power has the greatest capacity factor among energy sources in the United States, at 92.7 percent in 2021. The ratio of natural gas fired combined cycle power generation to maximum output stood at around 54.4 percent that year. Geothermal energy-generating facilities had the largest capacity factor among renewable sources.

Capacity factors for selected energy sources in the United States in 2021

Characteristic	Capacity factor
Nuclear	92.7%
Geothermal	71%
Other biomass	63.5%
Other gas	62.4%
Wood	59.5%
Natural gas - combined cycle	54.4%
Coal	49.3%
Hydroelectric	37.1%
Wind	34.6%
Solar photovoltaic	24.6%
Solar thermal	20.5%
Petroleum - steam turbine	16.4%
Natural gas - internal combustion	16%
Natural gas - steam turbine	13.1%
Natural gas - gas turbine	12.1%
Pumped storage*	10.2%
Battery*	4.6%
Petroleum - internal combustion	1.8%
Petroleum - gas turbine	1.8%

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Release date

March 2022

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Region

United States

Survey time period

2021

Supplementary notes

* Values for battery and pumped storage refer to usage factors, i.e. the ratio between gross generation with available capacity. It contrast to the other sources, which consider net generation.

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