Heat Rate of Power Plants: A Guide to Power Plant Efficiency
WEBDec 7, 2023 · A high heat rate and low efficiency could mean your power plant isn't dispatched to the market by a grid operator. To calculate the thermal efficiency of a power plant divide 3,412 BTU by the heat rate. For instance, if a coal power plant has a heat rate of 10,000 BTU/kWh, its thermal efficiency would be 3,412 BTU / 10,000 BTU/kWh or 34%.