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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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