Dan E Karn — United States of America
Gas power plant in Michigan, United States of America. Approximate location 43.645, -83.8401.
GasMichiganUnited States of AmericaSteam
Dan E Karn is a 1,946.3 MW gas power station in Michigan, United States of America. It is operated by Consumers Energy Co. Based on reported annual generation of 1,820 GWh, it can supply roughly 520k homes. It ranks #193 of 10,884 United States of America power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1971, it is around 55 years old — an older, legacy facility. 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 USA0001702.
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 1,403 MW for Dan E Karn power station, 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: Wikidata P2109; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 1,946.3 MW, Dan E Karn is well above the median gas plant in United States of America (121.2 MW). Technically it is described as Steam. 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.
Key facts
- Load factor
- 11%, from 1,820 GWh of reported generation; the median for 1622 gas plants in United States of America that report generation is 26%
- Generation trend
- 2,664 GWh in 2013 and 1,820 GWh in 2019 (−32%)
- Highest and lowest year
- 2013: 2,664 GWh; 2019: 1,820 GWh
- Share of United States of America gas capacity
- 0.2% of 789,950 MW across 2,165 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 175 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 Consumers Energy Co. 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 warm-summer humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 43.6°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 54% 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: 81/100 — this site sits in the top third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.
A gas turbine here also runs ~0% 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 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 #56 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
- Karn Generating Plant · Coal · 516 MW · Michigan
- Weadock Generating Plant · Coal · 312.6 MW · Michigan
- J C Weadock · Coal · 331.2 MW · Michigan
- Henry Station · Gas · 15.4 MW · Michigan
- Karn/Weadock Generating Complex Expansion · Coal · 930 MW · Michigan
- Water Street Station · Gas · 12.6 MW · Michigan
Location
Coordinates 43.645, -83.8401 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Dan E Karn?
Dan E Karn is a 1,946.3 MW gas power plant in Michigan, United States of America, commissioned in 1971.
How much electricity does Dan E Karn generate?
Dan E Karn generates about 1,820 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates Dan E Karn?
Dan E Karn is operated by Consumers Energy Co.