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Sunnyvale City of WPCP1.6 MW Waste

Waste

Sunnyvale City of WPCP is a 1.6 MW waste-fired power plant in the United States, operated by Sunnyvale City of WPCP since 1997. Ranked #499 of 541 waste plants in the United States. Its 1.6 MW represents 0.02% of the United States' total waste capacity of 9,769 MW. The largest waste plant in the United States is Covington Facility at 161 MW, making this facility 100 times smaller. Nearby plants within 50 km include Russell City Energy Center (655 MW, Gas), Metcalf Energy Center (635 MW, Gas), and Potrero Generating Station (382 MW, Gas). The facility is located in California, approximately 50 km northwest of San Jose.

Capacity
1.6 MW
Commissioning Year
1997

29 years old

Owner
Sunnyvale City of WPCP
Location
37.4194°, -122.0153°

United States of America, North America

Location

Coordinates:: 37.419400, -122.015300
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Carbon Footprint330 g CO₂/kWh
Annual CO₂
3.2 Kt
10 GWh/year × 330 g/kWh
Cumulative CO₂
93.9 Kt
Over 29 years of operation
Past Retirement
2022
4 years past expected retirement
Annual emissions equivalent to
704
cars per year
432
homes per year
147.2K
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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