Tennessee Valley Authority
Fossil-Fuel Generation
The coal-fired generating facilities of TVA’s Fossil Power Group have 15,075 megawatts of capacity. They have been the backbone of the power system since the 1950s, when TVA first began using coal to make electricity for the Tennessee Valley. The eleven fossil plants generate about 60 percent of the electricity TVA produces for its customers.
TVA's fossil system also includes 83 generators powered by combustion turbines with a total capacity of 6,003 megawatts. These generators can be quickly started and are vital for meeting peak electricity demands.
Learn more about TVA’s fossil plant operations.
Coal-fired power plants
TVA’s 11 coal-fired fossil plants have a total of 59 generating units. Each unit produces electricity by burning coal in a boiler to heat water to produce steam. The steam, at tremendous pressure, flows into a turbine, which spins a generator to produce electricity. The steam is cooled, condensed back into water, and returned to the boiler to start the process over.
Coal-Fired Power Plant Diagram
Read information about each plant's history, operations, and performance.
Combustion turbines
TVA’s 83 combustion turbine generators are located at nine sites across the TVA service area. They run on natural gas or fuel oil and are designed to start quickly during peak demand periods. The turbines operate like a jet engine, drawing in air, compressing it, mixing it with fuel, and igniting it. The hot combustion gases then expand through turbine blades connected to a generator to produce electricity.
Combustion Turbine Power Plant Diagram
Read information about each plant's history, operations, and performance.
