Crystal River — United States of America
Gas power plant in Florida, United States of America. Approximate location 28.9656, -82.6977.
GasFloridaUnited States of AmericaCCGT · HRSGCO₂ measured
Crystal River is a 3,449 MW gas power station in Florida, United States of America. It is operated by Duke Energy Florida LLC. Based on reported annual generation of 15,044 GWh, it can supply roughly 4.3 million homes. It ranks #23 of 10,884 United States of America power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2003, it is around 23 years old — relatively modern. Its annual emissions of 8,392,686 t CO₂/yr (US EPA GHGRP) are equivalent to about 2.0 million cars driven for a year. In context, gas supplies about 40.0% 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 USA0000628.
Data status
Known data
Calculated from dataset
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 1,970 MW for Crystal River Energy Complex, but it is not used as the public primary value until scope is verified (unit vs operating vs installed/project total).
Data provenance
Capacity and fuel are the upstream open-dataset record, not yet matched to a 2026 registry or GEM entry.
capacity: WRI GPPD; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 3,449 MW, Crystal River is well above the median gas plant in United States of America (121.2 MW). Technically it is described as CCGT; combined-cycle with a heat-recovery steam generator (HRSG). Gas plants burn natural gas either in open-cycle turbines for fast peaking, or in combined-cycle units that recover exhaust heat in an HRSG to reach roughly 55–62% efficiency — the cleanest-burning fossil option.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
8,392,686 t CO₂/yr — in everyday terms
This facility's annual emissions are roughly equivalent to:
Equivalencies via US EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies; emissions per US EPA GHGRP (measured for US EPA/EU ETS, modelled for Climate TRACE).
Key facts
- Load factor
- 50%, from 15,044 GWh of reported generation; the median for 1622 gas plants in United States of America that report generation is 26%
- Generation trend
- 11,760 GWh in 2014 and 15,044 GWh in 2019 (+28%)
- Highest and lowest year
- 2019: 15,044 GWh; 2017: 8,755 GWh
- Share of United States of America gas capacity
- 0.4% of 789,950 MW across 2,165 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 1,160 of 1,973 dated gas 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 Duke Energy Florida LLC. All plants by this company →
Local climate & thermal context
This gas plant burns natural gas in a turbine — often in a combined-cycle setup — to generate electricity. It sits in a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 29.0°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 88% 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: 18/100 — this site sits in the bottom third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.
A gas turbine here also runs ~4% below its ISO (15°C) rating at this annual mean (typical CCGT curve, estimate).
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 an aggressive, high-corrosion environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C5 — Very high), with marine salt corrosion 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 #7 largest gas power plant of 2165 in United States of America by capacity.
United States of America has 2165 gas power plants in this dataset, together about 789,950 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Crystal River nuclear power plant · Nuclear · 890 MW · Florida
- Crystal River Energy Complex · Coal · 3,448.4 MW · Florida
- Levy County nuclear power plant · Nuclear · 2,500 MW · Florida
- Hernando · Waste · 1.6 MW · Florida
- Central Power & Lime Power Plant · Coal · 125 MW · Florida
- Florida Power Development · Biomass · 125 MW · Florida
Location
Coordinates 28.9656, -82.6977 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Crystal River?
Crystal River is a 3,449 MW gas power plant in Florida, United States of America, commissioned in 2003.
How much electricity does Crystal River generate?
Crystal River generates about 15,044 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates Crystal River?
Crystal River is operated by Duke Energy Florida LLC.
How much CO₂ does Crystal River emit?
Crystal River has measured emissions of about 8,392,686 tonnes of CO₂ per year (US EPA GHGRP).