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Capacity factor: Difference between revisions
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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> | 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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==Capacity value== | |||
Grid operators have to be able to call on the various generating plants as needed to meet demand. The ability to do so can be expressed as a plant’s ''capacity value''. | |||
Wind turbines can not be turned on except by the wind, which has no relationship to user demand for electricity.<ref>https://wind-watch.org/pix/displayimage.php?pid=494</ref><ref>https://wind-watch.org/pix/displayimage.php?pid=493</ref><ref>https://wind-watch.org/pix/displayimage.php?pid=660</ref> Therefore, their capacity value is effectively zero. This means that to meet the needs of the grid, other – dispatchable – sources have to be maintained and built without regard to the presence of wind turbines. | |||
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==See also== | |||
* [[Efficiency]] | |||
* [[Carbon emissions]] | |||