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Big Bend

Hillsborough County, Florida · EIA plant ID 645 · Operator: Tampa Electric Co
Natural gasNatural Gas Fired Combined CycleNatural Gas Fired Combustion TurbineNatural Gas Steam TurbineBA: TEC

×891 MW natural gas retired since 2020 (latest Apr 2023)

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Nameplate1,797MWSummer 1,491 MW
Generators5in service
Net generation6,544GWh12 mo to Aug 2026
Capacity factor54%gas/coal/oil units, summer MW
Heat rate6,965Btu/kWhfossil units, electric fuel, HHV
First online1970Runs as baseload

The 12-month figures include preliminary EIA-923 months, which EIA revises. Final data runs through Dec 2025.

Monthly net generation

EIA-923, all units at the plant. Net of station use; storage can go negative.
FinalPreliminary
02505007501,000GWh2001200320052007200920112013201520172019202120232025

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.
0%20%40%60%2005201020152020202554.5% · 12 mo

Heat rate by year

Electric fuel MMBtu × 1000 ÷ net MWh (Btu/kWh, HHV), fossil units only; CT + CA counted as one combined-cycle block.
6,0008,00010,00012,000200520102015202020256,965 Btu/kWh · 12 mo
Annual data table
YearNet GWhCapacity factorHeat rate (Btu/kWh)
20019,259.7——
20028,518.2——
20038,610.653.1%11,119
20049,092.956.3%10,915
20058,442.353.0%11,201
20069,422.762.9%10,865
20078,608.959.1%10,837
20088,727.660.6%10,835
20098,326.859.4%10,589
20109,044.864.2%10,204
20119,425.766.9%10,440
20129,556.468.1%10,483
20139,546.268.2%10,483
201410,127.269.7%10,407
20157,558.652.0%10,580
20167,303.850.1%10,791
20175,577.638.1%11,019
20184,787.632.7%11,116
20193,889.926.5%11,880
20203,129.621.2%11,469
20213,279.121.9%11,662
20222,898.316.9%10,065
20234,821.333.3%7,255
20247,169.252.5%7,110
20257,473.457.0%7,034

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.
StatusListed in EIA-860, no liquid burn in 36 months
Liquid fuel burned · 36 mo0 MMBtu
Last month with liquid burn—
Switch while operatingYes
Net summer MW on gas56
Net summer MW on oil56
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 IDTechnologyPrime moverNameplate MWSummer MWOnlineStatusPlanned retirementOEM / model
GT4Natural Gas Fired Combustion TurbineGT69.956Aug 2009Operating—coming soon
GT5Natural Gas Fired Combined CycleCT397.8360Dec 2021Operating—coming soon
GT6Natural Gas Fired Combined CycleCT397.8360Dec 2021Operating—coming soon
ST1Natural Gas Fired Combined CycleCA445.5335Oct 1970Operating—coming soon
ST4Natural Gas Steam TurbineST486380Feb 1985Operating · retirement plannedJan 2040coming soon
1Solar PhotovoltaicPV19.819.8Feb 2017not_current—coming soon
BBST1Natural Gas Steam TurbineST445.5335planned Jan 2023not_current—coming soon
BESS1BatteriesBA12.612.6Feb 2017not_current—coming soon
GT1Petroleum LiquidsGT1810Feb 1969Retired Dec 2008—coming soon
GT2Petroleum LiquidsGT78.749Nov 1974Retired Dec 2008—coming soon
GT3Petroleum LiquidsGT78.739Nov 1974Retired Dec 2008—coming soon
ST2Conventional Steam CoalST445.5385Apr 1973Retired Dec 2021—coming soon
ST3Natural Gas Steam TurbineST445.5395May 1976Retired Apr 2023—coming soon

Owner / operator

Operator: Tampa Electric Co. Ownership shares by in-service nameplate MW (EIA-860 Schedule 4; units not listed there are wholly owned by the operator).
Tampa Electric Co100.0%1,797 MW

Nearby plants

Within 80 km.
Big Bend Floating Solar I1 MW1.1 km
Big Bend Agrivoltaics1 MW1.3 km
Big Bend II Solar46 MW1.9 km
Big Bend 1 Solar and Battery Storage32 MW2.1 km
Mosaic Co Tampa Facility72 MW7.5 km
Little Manatee River Solar75 MW10.5 km