OREG 3 Inc — United States of America

OREG 3 Inc is a 5 MW cogeneration power plant in Minnesota, United States of America. It is operated by Ormat Nevada Inc. Based on reported annual generation of 38 GWh, it can supply roughly 11k homes. It ranks #6942 of 10,884 United States of America power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2010, it is around 16 years old — relatively modern. 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 USA0057281.

Data provenance

Source of the capacity and fuel values:

capacity: Wikidata P2109; fuel: WRI GPPD

In context: how this plant compares

At 5 MW, OREG 3 Inc is below the median cogeneration plant in United States of America (26 MW). This facility converts its energy source into electricity for the grid; its capacity, fuel type and location determine its role in the national power mix.

Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.

Key facts

Load factor

87%, from 38 GWh of reported generation; the median for 31 cogeneration plants in United States of America that report generation is 47%

Generation trend

41 GWh in 2013 and 38 GWh in 2019 (−7%)

Highest and lowest year

2016: 47 GWh; 2019: 38 GWh

Share of United States of America cogeneration capacity

0.5% of 1,037 MW across 34 plants in this dataset

Age among peers

27 of 34 dated cogeneration 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 Ormat Nevada Inc. All plants by this company →

Local climate & thermal context

This cogeneration plant produces electricity and useful heat together for higher fuel efficiency. It sits in a hot-summer humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 43.8°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 71% 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: 87/100 — 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 #29 largest cogeneration power plant of 34 in United States of America by capacity.

United States of America has 34 cogeneration power plants in this dataset, together about 1,037 MW of capacity.

Nearby power plants

• Lakefield Junction · Gas · 534 MW · Minnesota
• Trimont Area Wind Farm · Wind · 107 MW · Minnesota
• Fox Lake · Gas · 133.4 MW · Minnesota
• Elm Creek Wind II LLC · Wind · 148.8 MW · Minnesota
• Welcome Wind Turbine · Wind · 2.1 MW · Minnesota
• Elm Creek Wind LLC · Wind · 99 MW · Minnesota

Location

Coordinates 43.76, -94.7514 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.

Frequently asked questions