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Coal
The fossil facility of today is not the same coal-fired plant of decades past. For many years, we’ve taken steps to protect our natural resources and dramatically reduce emissions.
Since the 1950s, coal-fired plants have been critical in meeting power demand across the Tennessee Valley. They continue to produce nearly 6,000 megawatts – enough to power approximately 3.4 million homes – to keep the lights on in the region even on the hottest or coldest days. Since 2017, we’ve invested $2.5 billion in state-of-the-art technology to protect the environment, significantly reducing emissions and environmental impacts.
When TVA first decided to close these coal plants, the decision was based on the best information they had at the time. But now, people in our region are using a lot more electricity than expected, so TVA needs these plants to help make enough power for everyone. Keeping these plants running helps make sure the power stays reliable while TVA builds new power plants.
Electricity use is growing very fast, and the highest demand during winter and summer is reaching new records. That means we need every bit of power we can get. Keeping these coal units online helps make sure we have steady, reliable power until new plants are finished and ready to use.
Our Coal-Fired Plants
TVA’s four active coal-fired fossil plants have a total of 24 generating units. Each unit produces electricity by burning coal in a boiler to heat water to produce steam. The steam, under tremendous pressure, flows into a turbine, which spins a generator to produce electricity. The steam is cooled, condensed back into water, and returned to the boiler to start the process over.
Built With Coal Ash
In 2022, TVA recycled more than 80 percent of coal ash produced from burning coal. The material was used for the manufacture of wallboard and cement, as well as a replacement for Portland cement in concrete.
The Intelligent Compaction Project
TVA is pioneering new technology to become the industry leader in the dry storage of coal ash. The ash is laid down, layer by layer, and compacted by special machines that use both weight and vibration to create a pavement-like hardness. Sensors within the ash allow TVA engineers to monitor the process in real-time, and keep an eye on the ash 24/7/365. Learn more about the intelligent compaction project.
Plants of the Past
As TVA updates its generation portfolio to meet current demand, here’s a look at the coal-burning giants that have been retired over the years, including – most recently – Paradise and Bull Run fossil plants.