Zion Energy Center — United States of America
Gas power plant in Illinois, United States of America. Approximate location 42.4776, -87.895.
GasIllinoisUnited States of AmericaOCGT
Zion Energy Center is a 596.7 MW gas power station in Illinois, United States of America. It is operated by Zion Energy LLC. Based on reported annual generation of 597 GWh, it can supply roughly 171k homes. It ranks #1075 of 10,884 United States of America power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 2002, it is around 24 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 USA0055392.
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: GEM · 2026 · L100000402389; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 596.7 MW, Zion Energy Center is well above the median gas plant in United States of America (121.2 MW). Technically it is described as OCGT. 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
- 11%, from 597 GWh of reported generation; the median for 1622 gas plants in United States of America that report generation is 26%
- Generation trend
- 64 GWh in 2014 and 597 GWh in 2019 (+838%)
- Highest and lowest year
- 2019: 597 GWh; 2014: 64 GWh
- Share of United States of America gas capacity
- less than 0.1% of 789,950 MW across 2,165 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 1,047 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 Zion Energy LLC.
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 hot-summer humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 42.5°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 43% 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: 76/100 — this site sits in the top third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.
A gas turbine here also runs ~0% 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 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 #491 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
- Zion Landfill Gas to Energy Facility · Waste · 7 MW · Illinois
- Pleasant Prairie · Coal · 1,210 MW · Wisconsin
- Zion nuclear power plant · Nuclear · 2,170 MW · Illinois
- Waukegan · Coal · 793.7 MW · Illinois
- Waukegan Generating Station · Coal · 793.7 MW · Illinois
- Pheasant Run Landfill Gas Recovery · Waste · 8.8 MW · Wisconsin
Location
Coordinates 42.4776, -87.895 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Zion Energy Center?
Zion Energy Center is a 596.7 MW gas power plant in Illinois, United States of America, commissioned in 2002.
How much electricity does Zion Energy Center generate?
Zion Energy Center generates about 597 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates Zion Energy Center?
Zion Energy Center is operated by Zion Energy LLC.