Improvements in coal dispatch can open up space for new resources to connect to the grid, minimizing the amount of replacement energy needed at time of coal plant retirements.

In 2024, the average annual capacity factor of coal plants was 43% according to the EIA. Economic dispatch and plant efficiency improvements can open space for new resources to connect to the grid using surplus interconnection, but the amount of surplus opportunity is dependent on the economics and configuration of individual coal plants.