Zion Energy Center
Lake County, Illinois · EIA plant ID 55392 · Operator: Zion Energy LLC
Nameplate597MWSummer 478 MW
Generators3in service
Net generation468GWh12 mo to Dec 2025
Capacity factor11%gas/coal/oil units, summer MW
Heat rate11,353Btu/kWhfossil units, electric fuel, HHV
First online2002Runs as peaking
Monthly net generation
EIA-923, all units at the plant. Net of station use; storage can go negative.
FinalPreliminary
Capacity factor by year
Net MWh ÷ (summer MW × hours), gas/coal/oil units. Each year uses that year's EIA-860 ratings; the hollow dot is the latest 12 months.
Heat rate by year
Electric fuel MMBtu × 1000 ÷ net MWh (Btu/kWh, HHV), fossil units only; CT + CA counted as one combined-cycle block.
Annual data table
| Year | Net GWh | Capacity factor | Heat rate (Btu/kWh) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 139.3 | 8.9% | 10,883 |
| 2003 | 78.1 | 2.3% | 11,348 |
| 2004 | 29.9 | 0.8% | 10,863 |
| 2005 | 34.9 | 0.9% | 10,946 |
| 2006 | 49.8 | 1.3% | 10,709 |
| 2007 | 255.6 | 6.4% | 11,176 |
| 2008 | 115.8 | 2.9% | 11,509 |
| 2009 | 112.2 | 2.8% | 11,670 |
| 2010 | 140.1 | 3.5% | 11,740 |
| 2011 | 111.2 | 2.8% | 11,513 |
| 2012 | 133.1 | 3.3% | 11,255 |
| 2013 | 116.8 | 2.9% | 11,243 |
| 2014 | 63.7 | 1.6% | 11,193 |
| 2015 | 132.4 | 3.3% | 11,501 |
| 2016 | 435.5 | 10.9% | 11,231 |
| 2017 | 462.1 | 11.6% | 10,961 |
| 2018 | 522.4 | 13.1% | 11,576 |
| 2019 | 597.4 | 15.0% | 12,250 |
| 2020 | 548.7 | 13.7% | 11,054 |
| 2021 | 638.5 | 16.0% | 11,136 |
| 2022 | 331.6 | 8.3% | 11,326 |
| 2023 | 310.5 | 7.4% | 11,468 |
| 2024 | 363.6 | 8.7% | 11,598 |
| 2025 | 468.2 | 11.2% | 11,353 |
Fuel capability
Gas-fired turbines (CT/GT/CA/CS) that can also burn liquid fuel. EIA-860 Schedule 3 for capability, EIA-923 for actual burn.
StatusLikely still dual fuel
Liquid fuel burned · 36 mo64,925 MMBtu
Last month with liquid burnDec 2025
Switch while operatingYes
Net summer MW on gas456
Net summer MW on oil456
Time gas → oilup to 1 h (EIA 1H)
Time oil → gasup to 1 h (EIA 1H)
Generators
EIA-860 (annual) with EIA-860M updates through Sep 2026. EIA-923 reports generation by plant, prime mover and fuel, not by unit, so unit-level output isn't shown.
| Gen ID | Technology | Prime mover | Nameplate MW | Summer MW | Online | Status | Planned retirement | OEM / model |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CTG1 | Natural Gas Fired Combustion Turbine | GT | 198.9 | 161 | Jun 2002 | Operating | — | coming soon |
| CTG2 | Natural Gas Fired Combustion Turbine | GT | 198.9 | 162 | Jun 2002 | Operating | — | coming soon |
| CTG3 | Natural Gas Fired Combustion Turbine | GT | 198.9 | 155 | Jun 2003 | Operating | — | coming soon |
| 1 | — | — | 198.9 | 153 | planned Jun 2002 | not_current | — | coming soon |
| 2 | — | — | 198.9 | 153 | planned Jun 2002 | not_current | — | coming soon |
| 3 | — | — | 198.9 | 153 | planned Jun 2003 | not_current | — | coming soon |
| 4 | — | — | 198.9 | 153 | planned Jun 2002 | not_current | — | coming soon |
| 5 | — | — | 198.9 | 153 | planned Jun 2002 | not_current | — | coming soon |
Owner / operator
Operator: Zion Energy LLC. Ownership shares by in-service nameplate MW (EIA-860 Schedule 4; units not listed there are wholly owned by the operator).
| Zion Energy LLC | 100.0% | 597 MW |
Nearby plants
Within 80 km.
| Zion Landfill Gas to Energy Facility | retired | 0.8 km |
| NL IL Lake | — | 1.5 km |
| IL - Renewable Properties - Bobcat - Wes | — | 3.2 km |
| Cenergy IL - Zion CSG | 2 MW | 4 km |
| Cenergy IL - Zion Park District | — | 4.2 km |
| Bristol Woods Solar WI, LLC | 6 MW | 9.7 km |