Belle River — United States of America
Coal power plant in Michigan, United States of America. Approximate location 42.7756, -82.495.
CoalMichiganUnited States of America
Belle River is a 1,650 MW coal power station in Michigan, United States of America. It is operated by DTE Electric Company. Based on reported annual generation of 5,802 GWh, it can supply roughly 1.7 million homes. It ranks #275 of 10,884 United States of America power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1986, it is around 40 years old — long-established. In context, coal supplies about 16.3% of United States of America's electricity; the national grid averages 384 gCO₂/kWh (43.0% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id USA0006034.
Data status
Known data
Calculated from dataset
Not available
Known, modelled and calculated values are kept separate. Missing fields are shown as unavailable.
Capacity provenance
The public capacity above is the current source-record value. A 2026 tracker candidate lists 1,395 MW for Belle River Power Plant, but it is not used as the public primary value until scope is verified (unit vs operating vs installed/project total).
Data provenance
Source of the capacity and fuel values:
capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000103973; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 1,650 MW, Belle River is well above the median coal plant in United States of America (558 MW). Coal plants burn pulverised coal to raise high-pressure steam for a turbine; they run as baseload but are the most carbon-intensive mainstream source and the first targeted for retirement or efficiency retrofits.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
Key facts
- Load factor
- 40%, from 5,802 GWh of reported generation; the median for 244 coal plants in United States of America that report generation is 41%
- Generation trend
- 7,879 GWh in 2013 and 5,802 GWh in 2019 (−26%)
- Highest and lowest year
- 2018: 7,901 GWh; 2019: 5,802 GWh
- Share of United States of America coal capacity
- 0.3% of 621,194 MW across 802 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 561 of 745 dated coal plants in United States of America are older
Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).
Reported generation trend
Annual generation (GWh), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by DTE Electric Company. All plants by this company →
Local climate & thermal context
This coal plant burns coal to raise high-pressure steam that spins a turbine-generator. It sits in a warm-summer humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 42.8°N — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.
Monthly mean temperature
Heating degree-days here run 48% above the median power plant in this dataset — a proxy for how much extra energy heated equipment must replace through its surfaces in winter.
Climate heat-demand index: 79/100 — this site sits in the top third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.
Climate normals: WorldClim 2.1 (1970–2000 monthly normals, 10 arc-min, CC BY 4.0); zone: Köppen-Geiger world climate classification (Kottek et al. 2006, 0.5° grid). Degree-days & heat-demand index computed by PowerAtlas — a modelled heat-demand proxy, not a measured site figure.
Site climate & environmental severity
This site sits in a moderately corrosive environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C3 — Medium), with thermal cycling the leading environmental stress.
Indicative estimate via the ISO 9223:2012 informative method (atmospheric corrosivity from temperature, time-of-wetness and airborne salinity), using WorldClim climate normals, the Köppen-Geiger class and coast distance. Indicative, not a measured corrosion rate.
How it compares & nearby plants
The #109 largest coal power plant of 802 in United States of America by capacity.
United States of America has 802 coal power plants in this dataset, together about 621,194 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Belle River Power Plant · Coal · 1,395 MW · Michigan
- Dean · Gas · 356 MW · Michigan
- St Clair · Coal · 1,233.5 MW · Michigan
- St. Clair Power Plant · Coal · 1,547 MW ·
- Lambton power station · Coal · 2,000 MW · Ontario
- Greenfield Energy Centre · Gas · 1,038 MW · Michigan
Location
Coordinates 42.7756, -82.495 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Belle River?
Belle River is a 1,650 MW coal power plant in Michigan, United States of America, commissioned in 1986.
How much electricity does Belle River generate?
Belle River generates about 5,802 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates Belle River?
Belle River is operated by DTE Electric Company.