kapasiteettitekijä

Kapasiteettitekijä is a Finnish term that translates to "capacity factor" or "utilization rate" in English. It is a dimensionless quantity used to describe the ratio of the actual energy output of a power plant or energy-producing facility over a certain period to its maximum possible energy output over the same period.

The capacity factor is calculated by dividing the total energy generated (usually in kilowatt-hours or megawatt-hours) by the product of the facility's nameplate capacity (in kilowatts or megawatts) and the total number of hours in the period being considered. For example, if a 100 MW power plant generates 438,000 MWh in a year (365 days * 24 hours/day * 100 MW = 876,000 MWh potential), its capacity factor would be 438,000 / 876,000 = 0.5, or 50%.

Capacity factors vary significantly depending on the type of energy source. Renewable energy sources like solar and wind power typically have lower capacity factors because their output is dependent on weather conditions. Nuclear power plants and fossil fuel power plants, which can operate more consistently, generally have higher capacity factors. A high capacity factor indicates that a facility is producing electricity close to its maximum potential, while a low capacity factor suggests it is operating intermittently or below its peak performance. Understanding capacity factor is crucial for energy planning, economic analysis of power generation, and assessing the reliability of energy infrastructure.