16th largest plant in Tennessee · 1716th nationally
Watts Bar Hydro is a hydroelectric power plant in Tennessee with a nameplate capacity of 175 MW. It generates roughly 812.4k MWh per year — enough to power about 77,373 average U.S. homes.
Its capacity factor of 53% puts it in the middle range — running steadily but not full-time.
| Plant Name | Watts Bar Hydro |
|---|---|
| Operator | Tennessee Valley Authority |
| City | Spring City |
| County | Rhea County |
| State | Tennessee |
| ZIP | 37381 |
| Coordinates | 35.61967, -84.78553 |
This plant highlighted in navy-ringed pin; other generators within 25 miles shown as fuel-colored dots.
| ID | Technology | Fuel | Capacity | Status | Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HY1 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 41.0 MW | Operating | 1942 |
| HY2 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 33.4 MW | Operating | 1942 |
| HY3 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 33.4 MW | Operating | 1942 |
| HY4 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 33.4 MW | Operating | 1944 |
| HY5 | Conventional Hydroelectric | Water | 33.4 MW | Operating | 1944 |
| NERC Region | SERC |
|---|---|
| Balancing Authority | Tennessee Valley Authority |
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.