Spartanburg Water System

💧 HydroelectricCommercial Non-CHP3 MW capacity

138th largest plant in South Carolina · 9135th nationally

Spartanburg Water System is a hydroelectric power plant in South Carolina with a nameplate capacity of 3.0 MW. It generates roughly 1.9k MWh per year — enough to power about 180 average U.S. homes.

Its capacity factor of 7% reflects intermittent or peaking operation. At 80 lb CO₂/MWh, its emission rate sits below the national grid average of roughly 800 lb/MWh.

PeakingMid-meritBaseload0%40%80%100%7%
Peaking — intermittent or backup
Capacity3 MWnameplate
Annual Generation1.9k MWhEPA eGRID
Capacity Factor7%of theoretical max
Annual CO₂76metric tons

Location

Plant NameSpartanburg Water System
OperatorSpartanburg Commissioners Pw
CityChesnee
CountySpartanburg County
StateSouth Carolina
ZIP29323
Coordinates35.11030, -81.96750

This plant highlighted in navy-ringed pin; other generators within 25 miles shown as fuel-colored dots.

Natural GasOilHydroelectricSolarBiomass

Generators (5)

IDTechnologyFuelCapacityStatusOnline
DI2Petroleum LiquidsDistillate Oil2.0 MWOperating2011
DI1Petroleum LiquidsDistillate Oil1.6 MWRetired1998
DI3Petroleum LiquidsDistillate Oil1.3 MWRetired2011
HG1Conventional HydroelectricWater0.5 MWStandby1926
HG2Conventional HydroelectricWater0.5 MWStandby1926

Emissions (annual)

CO₂76 metric tons
NOₓ2 metric tons
CO₂ Rate80 lb/MWh
This plant80 lb/MWhU.S. grid average800 lb/MWhNatural gas combined-cycle average900 lb/MWhCoal plant average2,100 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.

Grid context

NERC RegionSERC
Balancing AuthorityDuke Energy Carolinas

About Hydroelectric plants

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.

Other plants in Spartanburg County

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