World Power PlantsWorld Power Plants

Packaging Corp of America72.5 MW Waste

Waste

Packaging Corp of America is a 72.5 MW waste power plant in the United States, operated by Packaging Corp of America since 1992. Ranked #27 of 541 waste plants in the United States, this facility represents 0.74% of the country's total waste capacity of 9,768 MW. The largest waste plant in the United States is Covington Facility at 161 MW, making Packaging Corp of America 2.2 times smaller. Nearby plants include Colbert (476 MW, Gas), Pickwick Landing Dam (240 MW, Hydro), and River Bend Solar LLC (75 MW, Solar). The facility is located in Tennessee, approximately 90 km from Memphis.

Capacity
72.5 MW
Commissioning Year
1992

34 years old

Owner
Packaging Corp of America
Location
35.0471°, -88.2661°

United States of America, North America

Location

Coordinates:: 35.047100, -88.266100
Open in Google Maps
Carbon Footprint330 g CO₂/kWh
Annual CO₂
146.7 Kt
445 GWh/year × 330 g/kWh
Cumulative CO₂
4.99 Mt
Over 34 years of operation
Past Retirement
2017
9 years past expected retirement
Annual emissions equivalent to
31.9K
cars per year
19.6K
homes per year
6.7M
trees to offset

Estimates based on Waste emission factor (330 g CO₂/kWh) and capacity factor (70%). Actual emissions may vary based on operating conditions, efficiency, and fuel quality.

Technical Details

Primary Fuel Type
Waste
Energy Source
Non-Renewable
Country
United States of America
Continent
North America
Data Source
Global Power Plant Database

United States of AmericaEnergy Profile

10,047
Total Plants
1386.4 GW
Total Capacity
GasCoalNuclearHydro
Top Fuels

Waste as a Power Generation Energy Source: An Overview

Waste power generation, also known as waste-to-energy (WtE), is an innovative approach that transforms municipal solid waste into electricity and heat through various technological processes. As of now, there are approximately 1,068 waste power plants operating across 18 countries, boasting a total installed capacity of around 14.7 gigawatts (GW). The United States leads the way with 541 plants generating 9.8 GW, followed by the United Kingdom with 329 plants at 1.9 GW, and Germany with 66 plants producing 1.6 GW. Other notable contributors include Spain and Belgium, with 15 and 8 plants respectively, though their capacities are comparatively lower.

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