Covanta Fairfax Energy — United States of America
Waste power plant in Virginia, United States of America. Approximate location 38.695, -77.2411.
WasteVirginiaUnited States of AmericaCO₂ modelled
Covanta Fairfax Energy is a 124 MW waste power station in Virginia, United States of America. It is operated by Covanta Fairfax Inc. Based on reported annual generation of 723 GWh, it can supply roughly 207k homes. It ranks #2489 of 10,884 United States of America power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1990, it is around 36 years old — long-established. Its modelled annual emissions are 1,039,920 t CO₂/yr (Climate TRACE), equivalent to about 242k cars driven for a year. In context, the national grid averages 384 gCO₂/kWh (43.0% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id USA0050658.
Data status
Known data
Modelled source data
Calculated from dataset
Not available
Known, modelled and calculated values are kept separate. Missing fields are shown as unavailable.
Data provenance
Source of the capacity and fuel values:
capacity: Wikidata P2109; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 124 MW, Covanta Fairfax Energy is well above the median waste plant in United States of America (6.6 MW). Waste-to-energy plants burn municipal solid waste to generate electricity and heat, cutting landfill volume while recovering energy from residual waste.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
~1,039,920 t CO₂/yr (modelled) — in everyday terms
This facility's annual emissions are roughly equivalent to:
Equivalencies via US EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies; modelled emissions from Climate TRACE.
Key facts
- Load factor
- 67%, from 723 GWh of reported generation; the median for 506 waste plants in United States of America that report generation is 62%
- Generation trend
- 558 GWh in 2013 and 723 GWh in 2019 (+30%)
- Highest and lowest year
- 2019: 723 GWh; 2017: 58 GWh
- Share of United States of America waste capacity
- 1.2% of 10,154 MW across 551 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 115 of 541 dated waste 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 Covanta Fairfax Inc.
Local climate & thermal context
This waste plant recovers energy by combusting municipal or industrial waste. It sits in a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 38.7°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 8% below 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: 47/100 — this site sits in the mid 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 humidity / wetness 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 #4 largest waste power plant of 551 in United States of America by capacity.
United States of America has 551 waste power plants in this dataset, together about 10,154 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- I 95 Landfill Phase II · Waste · 3.2 MW · Virginia
- SM-1 nuclear power plant · Nuclear · 2 MW ·
- Goddard Steam Plant · Oil · 12.4 MW · Maryland
- Covanta Alexandria/Arlington Energy · Waste · 29 MW · Virginia
- MM Prince William Energy · Waste · 6.6 MW · Virginia
- Possum Point · Oil · 1,591 MW · Virginia
Location
Coordinates 38.695, -77.2411 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Covanta Fairfax Energy?
Covanta Fairfax Energy is a 124 MW waste power plant in Virginia, United States of America, commissioned in 1990.
How much electricity does Covanta Fairfax Energy generate?
Covanta Fairfax Energy generates about 723 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates Covanta Fairfax Energy?
Covanta Fairfax Energy is operated by Covanta Fairfax Inc.
How much CO₂ does Covanta Fairfax Energy emit?
Covanta Fairfax Energy has modelled emissions of about 1,039,920 tonnes of CO₂ per year (Climate TRACE).