Coal-, coal gangue- and biomass-fired power plant, were chosen to survey the source profile and emission factor of VOCs.
B/T ratios (0.8–2.6) during thermal power generation could be consider as the characteristics of coal and biomass burning.
VOCs emission factor of coal- and biomass-fired power generation was 0.88 and 3.49 g/GJ, or showed as 0.023 and 0.057 g/kg.
Previous VOCs emission inventory may overestimate the emission amount from thermal power generation in China.