Lowering heat rate is a key building block in US EPA's Clean Power Plan (CPP). The estimate for how much heat rate can be reduced under the CPP was determined from a statistical analysis of estimated gross heat rate using Air Markets Program Data (AMPD). Heat input as reported in AMPD is determined from the relationship that exists between exhaust flowrate and heat input that is commonly referred to as "F factor". Another public data source for estimating boiler heat input is plant fuel use data as found in EIA form 923. In this study these two sources of data were compared for several coal fired power plants. In addition, potential sources of variability in these methods are explored, including variability in the relationship between fuel heating value and exhaust gas flowrate, or F factor, and the degree to which it may impact variability in estimated gross heat rate using AMPD.
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