SEOLAbs

  A power plant may have a rated capacity of 100 MW, but that does not mean it produces 100 MW every hour of every day. Solar output changes with sunlight. Wind turbines depend on wind conditions. Conventional generators may shut down for maintenance, operate below maximum output or run only when electricity demand and market conditions justify it. Capacity factor helps describe the difference between a generator’s maximum possible electricity production and what it actually produces over a period of time. It is usually expressed as a percentage. Understanding capacity factor is useful when comparing electricity technologies, interpreting renewable-energy statistics and evaluating claims about how much electricity a project can realistically generate. Nameplate Capacity Is Not Electricity Generation The first distinction is between capacity and energy . A generator’s nameplate capacity describes its maximum rated power output. For example, a solar farm may have a capacity of: 100...