capacity factors

Capacity factor is a measure of how much a power plant actually produces compared to its maximum potential over a period. It’s expressed as a percentage: if a plant runs at full power all the time, its capacity factor is 100%. For example, a wind farm with a 35% capacity factor produces about 35% of the energy it could under ideal, constant conditions. Factors like weather, maintenance, and demand influence this. Higher capacity factors mean more efficient use of the plant’s full capacity, while lower factors indicate less consistent operation.