Coal

The fossil facility of today is not the same coal-fired plant of decades past. For many years, we’ve taken steps at our plants to protect our natural resources and dramatically reduce emissions.

Coal-fired plants have formed the backbone of our power system since TVA first started using them in the 1950s. However, in keeping with our commitment to generate safer, cleaner energy, we’re beginning to retire older, less efficient coal-fired plants and replacing them with low- or zero-emission electricity sources including:

• Cleaner natural gas plants
• Increased nuclear capacity
• Investments in renewable resources
• Energy efficiency programs

Our Coal-Fired Plants

TVA’s five active coal-fired fossil plants have a total of 25 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.

Find out how a coal-fired power plant works.

Read more information about each plant’s history, operations and performance—as well as installed emission-reduction technology:

Bull Run
Cumberland
Gallatin
Kingston
Shawnee

New Uses for Coal Byproducts

There's no getting around it: Burning coal creates ash. But that doesn't mean ash has to go to waste. Dry ash can be repurposed in building materials, abrasives, cement and more. Learn more about how coal ash is recycled and reused.