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Electric Generation Capacity & Energy: 2001 - 2012

Installed In-State Electric Generation Capacity by Fuel Type (MW)


 200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012
Coal 576 576 576 576 576 576 576 576 558 563 563 426
Biomass 1,149 1,133 1,167 1,105 1,104 1,108 1,099 1,125 1,112 1,123 1,164 1,180
Geothermal 2,625 2,626 2,626 2,626 2,626 2,644 2,644 2,601 2,651 2,651 2,651 2,651
Nuclear 4,456 4,456 4,456 4,456 4,456 4,456 4,456 4,456 4,456 4,577 4,577 4,577
Natural Gas 30,425 33,068 36,429 35,928 37,750 39,907 40,364 41,229 43,897 45,035 44,424 45,183
Large Hydro 11,914 11,779 11,779 12,138 12,127 12,218 11,969 12,250 12,250 12,281 12,321 12,321
Small Hydro 1,580 1,581 1,576 1,572 1,579 1,577 1,580 1,573 1,582 1,567 1,567 1,567
Solar 412 380 380 380 380 403 403 406 419 516 622 855
Wind 1,534 1,544 1,571 2,064 2,064 2,064 2,064 2,064 2,184 3,019 3,992 4,967
Other 658 613 591 591 591 582 598 598 597 574 526 376
Grand Total 55,329 57,757 61,150 61,436 63,253 65,534 65,753 66,879 69,705 71,907 72,407 74,103

Graph of Installed In-State Electric Generation Capacity by Fuel Type

Source: QFER CEC-1304 Power Plant Data Reporting

 

In-State Electric Generation by Fuel Type (GWh)


 200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012
Coal 4,041 4,275 4,269 4,086 4,283 4,190 4,217 3,977 3,735 3,406 3,120 1,580
Biomass 5,701 6,192 6,060 6,078 6,040 5,800 5,694 5,865 5,984 5,817 5,799 5,934
Geothermal 13,525 13,396 13,329 13,494 13,292 13,093 13,029 12,907 12,907 12,740 12,685 12,362
Nuclear 33,294 34,353 35,594 30,241 36,155 32,036 35,698 32,482 31,509 32,214 36,666 18,491
Natural Gas 116,346 92,720 94,692 105,309 97,173 109,320 120,418 123,069 117,232 109,783 90,925 121,649
Large Hydro 20,691 26,647 30,931 29,589 34,228 41,861 23,071 20,410 24,835 29,315 36,583 23,201
Small Hydro 4,246 4,708 5,414 4,878 6,031 6,691 4,036 4,052 4,389 5,014 6,150 4,260
Solar 836 851 759 741 660 616 668 733 851 912 1,097 1,533
Wind 3,242 3,546 3,316 4,258 4,084 4,902 5,570 5,724 6,289 6,572 8,115 9,152
Other 405 106 198 166 160 182 160 168 131 101 87 151
Grand Total 202,327 186,794 194,561 198,840 202,107 218,690 212,560 209,389 207,863 205,875 201,227 198,313

Graph of In-State Electric Generation by Fuel Type

Source: QFER CEC-1304 Power Plant Data Reporting

These tables and corresponding charts are provided to show the total installed electric generation nameplate capacity of all power plants one megawatt (MW) and larger located within California, and the corresponding generation from these resources. The data is collected under the authority of the California Code of Regulations, Title 20, Division 2, Chapter 3, Section 1304(a)(1)-(2).

The information in these charts and tables is based on metering at each power plant and, therefore, does not account for the 7-8 percent (typical) loss attributed to transmission for delivery to the customer's meter. In addition, the information includes both non-retail loads (for example, water delivery) and retail sales. Thus, the information cannot be used to determine progress toward the Renewable Portfolio Standard. Also, the information does not include power plants with a nameplate capacity of less than one MW such as rooftop solar installations, other small distributed generation, backup power generators, or imported energy from surrounding control areas. Data is subject to change based on revisions and data quality control checks.

See more information on the Renewable Portfolio Standard.

For a complete profile of California's total generation, please visit the following two sources, also within the Energy Almanac:
Total System Power
Electric Generation by Resource Type

Contact:
Michael Nyberg
Electricity Analysis Office
916-654-5968
MNyberg@energy.a.gov