How much carbon dioxide is produced per kilowatthour of U.S. electricity generation?

In 2018, total U.S. electricity generation by the electric power industry of 4.17 trillion kilowatthours (kWh) from all energy sources resulted in the emission of 1.87 billion metric tons—2.06 billion short tons—of carbon dioxide (CO2). This equaled about 0.99 pounds of CO2 emissions per kWh.

Emissions from electricity generation vary by type of fuel/energy source and by type and efficiency of electric power plants. The amount of CO2 produced per kWh during any period of time will vary according to the sources of electricity supplied to the electric power grid during that time. Therefore, electricity-related CO2 emissions and CO2 emission factors will vary hourly, daily, monthly, and annually. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) publishes CO2 emissions estimates related to electricity generation on a monthly and annual basis.

In 2018, power plants that burned coal, natural gas, and petroleum fuels were the source of about 63% of total U.S. electricity generation, but they accounted for 99% of U.S. electricity-related CO2 emissions. The other 1% of CO2 emissions were from other fuels and gases derived from fossil fuels and some types of geothermal power plants. EIA considers electricity generation from biomass, hydro, solar, and wind to be carbon neutral.

The table below presents data on electricity generation and CO2 emissions from electric utility and independent power producer power plants (excluding combined heat and power plants), and a CO2 emission factor (pounds of CO2/kWh) for coal, natural gas, and petroleum. Actual CO2 emissions per KWh from specific power plants may vary considerably from the factors in the table.

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