Nameplate Capacity

Nameplate capacity is the maximum rated output of a generator, prime mover or other electric power production equipment under the specific conditions its manufacturer designates, commonly expressed in megawatts and, in the U.S. Energy Information Administration's own words, usually indicated on a nameplate physically attached to the generator. It is the headline number attached to almost every plant announcement, and this atlas treats it with the care its own voice convention calls for: nameplate capacity is a ceiling, not a promise of actual generation, which is what capacity factor separately measures.