Capacity factor: Difference between revisions
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Capacity factor should not be confused with [[efficiency]]. | |||
Capacity factor is the fraction of energy actually produced over a period of time – usually a year – of what a generator has the capacity to produce. | |||
[[Electrical grid|Base load]] plants have capacity factors of 90% or more, because they are always running except for periods of maintenance (and occasional outages). | |||
Other dispatchable plants have lower capacity factors, because they are called on only when needed to supply power above the base load. | |||
For nondispatchable sources – i.e., ones generate electricity according to wind speed or sunlight rather than actual demand on the grid – capacity factor is determined by their fuel sources and the [[efficiency]] with which they are converted to electrical power. | |||
Wind turbines generate electricity at an annual average rate of 25%–35% of their capacity.<ref>https://www.eia.gov/electricity/data/eia923/</ref> They generate at or above their average rate only 40% of the time.<ref>https://wind-watch.org/pix/displayimage.php?pid=44</ref><ref>https://wind-watch.org/pix/displayimage.php?pid=42</ref> | |||
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Revision as of 14:49, 10 August 2017
Capacity factor should not be confused with efficiency.
Capacity factor is the fraction of energy actually produced over a period of time – usually a year – of what a generator has the capacity to produce.
Base load plants have capacity factors of 90% or more, because they are always running except for periods of maintenance (and occasional outages).
Other dispatchable plants have lower capacity factors, because they are called on only when needed to supply power above the base load.
For nondispatchable sources – i.e., ones generate electricity according to wind speed or sunlight rather than actual demand on the grid – capacity factor is determined by their fuel sources and the efficiency with which they are converted to electrical power.
Wind turbines generate electricity at an annual average rate of 25%–35% of their capacity.[1] They generate at or above their average rate only 40% of the time.[2][3]