Iowa State University — United States of America
Coal power plant in Iowa, United States of America. Approximate location 42.0275, -93.6394.
CoalIowaUnited States of AmericaCO₂ modelled
Iowa State University is a 46 MW coal power plant in Iowa, United States of America. It is operated by Iowa State University. Based on reported annual generation of 106 GWh, it can supply roughly 30k homes. It ranks #3800 of 10,884 United States of America power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1982, it is around 44 years old — long-established. Its modelled annual emissions are 66,095 t CO₂/yr (Climate TRACE), equivalent to about 15k cars driven for a year. 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 USA0054201.
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 46 MW, Iowa State University is below 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.
~66,095 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
- 26%, from 106 GWh of reported generation; the median for 244 coal plants in United States of America that report generation is 41%
- Generation trend
- 126 GWh in 2013 and 106 GWh in 2019 (−15%)
- Highest and lowest year
- 2013: 126 GWh; 2016: 100 GWh
- Share of United States of America coal capacity
- less than 0.1% of 621,194 MW across 802 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 500 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 Iowa State University.
Local climate & thermal context
This coal plant burns coal to raise high-pressure steam that spins a turbine-generator. It sits in a hot-summer humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 42.0°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 47% 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: 78/100 — 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 mild atmospheric environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C2 — Low), 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 #747 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
- Ames Electric Services Power Plant · Gas · 108.8 MW · Iowa
- Ames Municipal Power Plant · Coal · 108.8 MW · Iowa
- Ames GT · Oil · 78.7 MW · Iowa
- NCAH Central Utility Plant · Oil · 14.9 MW · Iowa
- Michelangelo Wind 4 LLC · Wind · 3 MW · Iowa
- Optimum Wind 6 LLC · Wind · 3 MW · Iowa
Location
Coordinates 42.0275, -93.6394 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Iowa State University?
Iowa State University is a 46 MW coal power plant in Iowa, United States of America, commissioned in 1982.
How much electricity does Iowa State University generate?
Iowa State University generates about 106 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates Iowa State University?
Iowa State University is operated by Iowa State University.
How much CO₂ does Iowa State University emit?
Iowa State University has modelled emissions of about 66,095 tonnes of CO₂ per year (Climate TRACE).