Difference between revisions of "Capacity Factor"
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Solar Photo-voltaic in the UK has a capacity factor of around 11% while wind power in the UK has a capacity factor in the low 30's %<ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacity_factor#United_Kingdom]</ref> | Solar Photo-voltaic in the UK has a capacity factor of around 11% while wind power in the UK has a capacity factor in the low 30's %<ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacity_factor#United_Kingdom]</ref> | ||
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Revision as of 10:42, 24 April 2019
Capacity factor is a crucial concept for understanding the potential output achievable by a power generator. Imagine a perfectly reliable device that runs 24 hours a day, 365 days a year at its full rated capacity. That device has a capacity factor of 100%. In the real world, the capacity factor is always less than 100, sometimes much less. Reasons might be:
- Mechanical breakdown or shutdown for maintenance
- Lack of demand for the electricity generated
- Intermittent or interrupted energy source
- Variability of the energy source
Solar Photo-voltaic in the UK has a capacity factor of around 11% while wind power in the UK has a capacity factor in the low 30's %[1]