DC Water CHP — United States of America
Biomass power plant in Maryland, United States of America. Approximate location 38.8206, -77.0183.
BiomassMarylandUnited States of AmericaCO₂ modelled
DC Water CHP is a 14.1 MW biomass power plant in Maryland, United States of America. It is operated by DC Water. Based on reported annual generation of 55 GWh, it can supply roughly 16k homes. It ranks #5198 of 10,884 United States of America power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2015, it is around 11 years old — relatively modern. Its modelled annual emissions are 31,907 t CO₂/yr (Climate TRACE), equivalent to about 7.4k cars driven for a year. In context, biomass supplies about 1.0% 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 USA0059012.
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
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 14.1 MW, DC Water CHP is below the median biomass plant in United States of America (17.9 MW). Biomass plants burn organic material such as wood, residues or waste-derived fuel to raise steam; they are dispatchable and counted as low-carbon where the feedstock is sustainably sourced.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
~31,907 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
- 45%, from 55 GWh of reported generation; the median for 144 biomass plants in United States of America that report generation is 53%
- Share of United States of America biomass capacity
- 0.2% of 6,324 MW across 184 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 135 of 153 dated biomass 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 DC Water.
Local climate & thermal context
This biomass plant burns organic material (wood, residues) to raise steam for a turbine. It sits in a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 38.8°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 5% 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: 48/100 — 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 #100 largest biomass power plant of 184 in United States of America by capacity.
United States of America has 184 biomass power plants in this dataset, together about 6,324 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Potomac River Generating Station · Coal · 514 MW · Virginia
- JBAB - Washington DC · Solar · 5.9 MW · Maryland
- Nationals · Solar · 1 MW · Washington, D.C.
- Synergen Panorama LLC CSG · Solar · 5 MW · Maryland
- AOC Capitol Power Plant · Gas · 7.5 MW · Washington, D.C.
- US GSA Heating and Transmission · Gas · 10.8 MW · Washington, D.C.
Location
Coordinates 38.8206, -77.0183 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is DC Water CHP?
DC Water CHP is a 14.1 MW biomass power plant in Maryland, United States of America, commissioned in 2015.
How much electricity does DC Water CHP generate?
DC Water CHP generates about 55 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates DC Water CHP?
DC Water CHP is operated by DC Water.
How much CO₂ does DC Water CHP emit?
DC Water CHP has modelled emissions of about 31,907 tonnes of CO₂ per year (Climate TRACE).