239th largest plant in Iowa · 9578th nationally
Des Moines Wastewater Reclamation Fac is a biomass power plant in Iowa with a nameplate capacity of 2.8 MW. It generates roughly 73 MWh per year — enough to power about 6 average U.S. homes.
Its capacity factor of 0% reflects intermittent or peaking operation. At 647 lb CO₂/MWh, its emission rate sits below the national grid average of roughly 800 lb/MWh.
| Plant Name | Des Moines Wastewater Reclamation Fac |
|---|---|
| Operator | Des Moines Metro Wrf |
| City | Des Moines |
| County | Polk County |
| State | Iowa |
| ZIP | 50317 |
| Coordinates | 41.57341, -93.55774 |
This plant highlighted in navy-ringed pin; other generators within 25 miles shown as fuel-colored dots.
| ID | Technology | Fuel | Capacity | Status | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 72-04 | Other Waste Biomass | Other Biomass Gas | 1.4 MW | Standby | 2015 |
| 72-05 | Other Waste Biomass | Other Biomass Gas | 1.4 MW | Standby | 2015 |
| 01 | Other Waste Biomass | Other Biomass Gas | 0.6 MW | Retired | 1991 |
| 02 | Other Waste Biomass | Other Biomass Gas | 0.6 MW | Retired | 1991 |
| 03 | Other Waste Biomass | Other Biomass Gas | 0.6 MW | Retired | 1991 |
| CO₂ | 23 metric tons |
|---|---|
| CO₂ Rate | 647 lb/MWh |
Annual totals and CO₂ rate reported by EPA eGRID for 2023. Reference averages are approximate U.S.-wide figures from the same dataset.
| NERC Region | MRO |
|---|---|
| Balancing Authority | Midcontinent Independent Transmission System Operator, Inc.. |
Biomass plants burn wood, agricultural waste, or methane from landfills to generate steam and electricity. They are considered carbon-neutral over long timescales when fuel is sustainably sourced, but they produce particulate emissions similar to coal.