38th largest plant in New Hampshire · 8898th nationally
Penacook Upper Falls Hydro is a hydroelectric power plant in New Hampshire with a nameplate capacity of 3.4 MW. It generates roughly 17.1k MWh per year — enough to power about 1,627 average U.S. homes.
Its capacity factor of 57% puts it in the middle range — running steadily but not full-time.
| Plant Name | Penacook Upper Falls Hydro |
|---|---|
| Operator | Briar-Hydro Associates |
| City | Penacook |
| County | Merrimack County |
| State | New Hampshire |
| ZIP | 03303 |
| Coordinates | 43.28321, -71.60083 |
This plant highlighted in navy-ringed pin; other generators within 25 miles shown as fuel-colored dots.
| ID | Technology | Fuel | Capacity | Status | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 3.4 MW | Operating | 1986 |
| NERC Region | NPCC |
|---|---|
| Balancing Authority | Iso New England Inc. |
Hydroelectric plants spin turbines using falling or flowing water — typically from a dam-impounded reservoir. They are dispatchable, long-lived, and emission-free at the point of generation, though large reservoirs can disrupt rivers and ecosystems and methane can be released from flooded vegetation.