Polk — United States of America
Gas power plant in Florida, United States of America. Approximate location 27.7286, -81.9897.
GasFloridaUnited States of AmericaCCGT · HRSG
Polk is a 1,492.5 MW gas power station in Florida, United States of America. It is operated by Tampa Electric Co. Based on reported annual generation of 6,989 GWh, it can supply roughly 2.0 million homes. It ranks #329 of 10,884 United States of America power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2006, it is around 20 years old — relatively modern. 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 USA0007242.
Data status
Known data
Calculated from dataset
Known, modelled and calculated values are kept separate. Missing fields are shown as unavailable.
Data provenance
Source of the capacity and fuel values:
capacity: Wikidata P2109; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 1,492.5 MW, Polk 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.
Key facts
- Load factor
- 53%, from 6,989 GWh of reported generation; the median for 1622 gas plants in United States of America that report generation is 26%
- Generation trend
- 1,478 GWh in 2013 and 6,989 GWh in 2019 (+373%)
- Highest and lowest year
- 2017: 8,242 GWh; 2013: 1,478 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
- 1,356 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 Tampa Electric 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 humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 27.7°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 95% 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: 15/100 — this site sits in the bottom third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.
A gas turbine here also runs ~5% 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 corrosive environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C4 — High), 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 #87 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
- Polk Power Station · Coal · 1,358.9 MW · Florida
- Lake Hancock Solar · Solar · 49.5 MW · Florida
- Mosaic South Pierce Operations · Cogeneration · 45.5 MW · Florida
- Payne Creek Solar · Solar · 70.3 MW · Florida
- Midulla Generating Station · Gas · 853 MW · Florida
- Hardee Power Station · Gas · 471 MW · Florida
Location
Coordinates 27.7286, -81.9897 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Polk?
Polk is a 1,492.5 MW gas power plant in Florida, United States of America, commissioned in 2006.
How much electricity does Polk generate?
Polk generates about 6,989 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates Polk?
Polk is operated by Tampa Electric Co.