Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy

Air Water Land Energy

Nebraska Energy Statistics

Generating Capacity in Nebraska
by Energy Source

As of 2021, Nebraska had 1,601 generating units with a total of 10,780,900 kilowatts (or 10,780.9 megawatts) capacity.

Return to top of page

pie chart showing Generating Nameplate Capacity by Energy Source in Nebraska

Return to top of page

Nameplate capacity came from generators using coal (36.94 percent), wind (27.47 percent), natural gas (20.23 percent), nuclear energy (7.43 percent), petroleum (4.38 percent), and hydroelectric power (3.06 percent), solar (0.31 percent), landfill gas (0.10 percent), biomass (0.04 percent), and battery storage (0.03 percent).

Net metered renewable installations are not included in the graphs and table since individual projects are not reported; hence, no energy sources are reported.

The Units and Capacity by Energy Source and Year of Initial Operation report, the Generating Units report, and the Annual Electricity Generation report are available for additional information.

A Note About Nameplate Capacity

Summer capacity and winter capacity are sometimes greater than nameplate capacity. The nameplate gives the capacity rating of the generator when it operates at certain temperatures, pressures, and power factors. With some modifications and with some margins that are built into generators, it is possible to exceed its nameplate. It is not uncommon for a generator to exceed its nameplate. The nameplate is usually not replaced and, in this case, the summer and winter capacity is often much higher than the nameplate value. Normally, you expect summer and winter capacity to be below nameplate capacity and in most cases they are.

Number of Units and
Generating Capacity by Energy Source
Nebraska

(2021)

Primary
Energy Source
Number of
Units or
Turbines
Generator Nameplate
Capacity

[Kilowatts (kW)]
Net Summer
Capacity

(kW)
Net Winter
Capacity

(kW)
Battery Storage 3 2,900 2,900 2,900
Biomass 6 4,500 4,500 4,500
Coal 17 3,982,900 3,867,000 3,807,400
Hydroelectric 20 329,900 279,700 279,700
Landfill Gas 11 11,200 11,000 11,000
Natural Gas 86 2,181,500 1,923,500 1,699,700
Nuclear 1 801,000 770,000 770,000
Petroleum 111 472,500 409,300 412,300
Solar 13 33,200 32,100 30,100
Wind (Utility–Scale) 1,333 2,961,300 2,955,600 2,955,600
Total 1,601 10,780,900 10,255,600 9,973,200

Return to top of page

Sources: Energy Information Administration, Washington, DC. Nebraska Department of Environment and Energy, Lincoln, NE.

Note: NA indicates not applicable.

The table and graphs were updated on November 21, 2022.
Typically, there is one year between updates.

Return to top of page