UCSD Fuel Cell Plant — United States of America

UCSD Fuel Cell Plant is a 3 MW biomass power plant in California, United States of America. It is operated by BioFuels Point Loma LLC. Based on reported annual generation of 19 GWh, it can supply roughly 5.4k homes. It ranks #8256 of 10,884 United States of America power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2011, it is around 15 years old — relatively modern. 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 USA0057735.

Data provenance

Source of the capacity and fuel values:

capacity: Wikidata P2109; fuel: WRI GPPD

In context: how this plant compares

At 3 MW, UCSD Fuel Cell Plant 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.

Key facts

Load factor

72%, from 19 GWh of reported generation; the median for 144 biomass plants in United States of America that report generation is 53%

Generation trend

17 GWh in 2013 and 19 GWh in 2019 (+9%)

Highest and lowest year

2017: 20 GWh; 2016: 15 GWh

Share of United States of America biomass capacity

less than 0.1% of 6,324 MW across 184 plants in this dataset

Age among peers

96 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 BioFuels Point Loma LLC.

Local climate & thermal context

This biomass plant burns organic material (wood, residues) to raise steam for a turbine. It sits in a cold semi-arid steppe climate (Köppen BSk) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 32.9°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 79% 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: 21/100 — this site sits in the bottom 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 benign, low-corrosion environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C1 — Very low), with dust abrasion 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 #135 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

• Univ of California San Diego Solar · Solar · 1.2 MW · California
• University of California San Diego Hybrid · Gas · 35.5 MW · California
• Illumina Way SD · Gas · 3.5 MW · California
• North City - Landfill Gas Engine North · Waste · 1.6 MW · California
• North City - Landfill Gas Engines South · Waste · 3.6 MW · California
• P Plant · Gas · 9.2 MW · California

Location

Coordinates 32.8772, -117.2347 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.

Frequently asked questions